used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
another's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
applesnounUS /ˈæpəlz/
plural of “apple” — fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
BiddynounUS /ˈbɪdi/
adult female chicken
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
birch-rod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
EducationaladjectiveUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃənəl/
relating to the process of education
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
energiesnounUS /ˈenərdʒiz/
plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
felicitousadjectiveUS /fɪˈlɪsətəs/
exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
great-auntnoun
an aunt of your father or mother
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
great-aunt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
impartverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːrt/
transmit (knowledge or skills)
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
indiscriminateadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmənət/
failing to make or recognize distinctions
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
obligingadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
pursuancenoun
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
determined
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
strawsnounUS /strɔːz/
plural of “straw” — plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
synopsisnounUS /sɪˈnɑːpsɪs/
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
From this reading The Educational scheme or Course established by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt may be resolved into the following synopsis.
carry out
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
totterverbUS /ˈtɑːtər/
move without being stable, as if threatening to fall
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
in the direction of
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
uncommonadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmən/
not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
precisely as stated
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
at the time that
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
which person or people
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
wishingnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/
a specific feeling of desire
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The pupils ate apples and put straws down one another’s backs, until Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt collected her energies, and made an indiscriminate totter at them with a birch-rod.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading The felicitous idea occurred to me a morning or two later when I woke, that the best step I could take towards making myself uncommon was to get out of Biddy everything she knew.
Wopsle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In pursuance of this luminous conception I mentioned to Biddy when I went to Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt’s at night, that I had a particular reason for wishing to get on in life, and that I should feel very much obliged to her if she would impart all her learning to me.
