used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
the state of being absent
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
(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 I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
bestowsverbUS /bɪˈstoʊz/
third-person singular of “bestow” — present
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
the two together, not just one
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
cementedverbUS /səˈmentɪd/
past form of “cement” — make fast as if with cement
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
compensatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpənseɪtəd/
receiving or eligible for compensation
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
remove the dust from
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
at any time
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
fragileadjectiveUS /ˈfrædʒəl/
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
fruitsnounUS /fruːts/
plural of “fruit” — the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
gracesnounUS /ˈɡreɪsɪz/
plural of “grace” — (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
inheritingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪŋ/
having the legal right to inherit
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
manhood's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
materialsnounUS /məˈtɪriəlz/
plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
mediumnounUS /ˈmiːdiəm/
a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
partialadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːrʃəl/
being or affecting only a part; not total
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
readsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “read” — something that is read
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
refrainverbUS /rɪˈfreɪn/
resist doing something
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
express in words
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
sordidadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrdəd/
morally degraded
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
the season of growth
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
superadding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
a special situation
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading With this consciousness before me, I will venture, then, to say, that I _was_ handsome:--if ever I was personally vain, such a folly is amongst those that have left me.
precisely as stated
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading I know not why I should refrain from saying I was handsome.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Long before any one reads these lines, that which was so, will be dust and ashes--a thing that creatures composed of the same sordid materials, cemented by the same fragile medium of life, will turn from with insect disgust.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading However, with some good looks, and some knowledge that I did possess them, it is not very wonderful that I should try to set them off to the best advantage, on my return home after a long absence.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading I was now eighteen; slim, tall, and vigorous, inheriting some portion both of my father's and of my mother's personal beauty, and superadding all those graces which are peculiarly the property of youth; the flowers which partial nature bestows upon the spring of life, and which are rarely compensated by the fruits of manhood's summer.
