used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another of life’s backgrounds is preparation.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
any person at all
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
arrivesverbUS /ərˈaɪvz/
third-person singular of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
backgroundsnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊndz/
plural of “background” — a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Another of life’s backgrounds is preparation.
for the reason that
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
conductsnounUS /kənˈdʌkts/
plural of “conduct” — manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Another of life’s backgrounds is preparation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
life'snounUS /laɪfs/
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Another of life’s backgrounds is preparation.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Another of life’s backgrounds is preparation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
participate in games or sport
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Another of life’s backgrounds is preparation.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
precisely, exactly
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
Identical; not different.
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
a special situation
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading They may seize their chances, but they do not perform their part well because they have not gotten themselves ready in mind, hand, or soul.
at the time that
From this reading Opportunity does not fail anyone, but a great many people fail opportunity by not being prepared for it when it arrives.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading How one really conducts himself is largely a question of whether or not he is prepared to do the right thing.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading An attempt to play any worthy part in life without proper preparation gives the same general impression as does a picture without a background.
