Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

a character set that includes letters and is used to write a language

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

equipment designed to serve a specific function

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

inherent ability

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

contrived by art rather than nature

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

plural of “class” — a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

under normal conditions

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

seemingly without interruption

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

command with authority

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

plural of “drip” — flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

divisible by two

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

plural of “filter” — device that removes something from whatever passes through it

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

according to habit or custom

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

occurring among members of a family usually by heredity

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

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 There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

United States poet (1869-1950)

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

the force of workers available

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

used to form the superlative

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

a large indefinite number

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

not any; not one

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

by chance

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

improve or perfect by pruning or polishing

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

plural of “sparkle” — merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

plural of “sponge” — a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

the season of growth

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

a person whose occupation is teaching

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading So there are families which refine themselves into intellectual aptitude without having had much opportunity for intellectual acquirements.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

activity leading to skilled behavior

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

(of liquids) clouded as with sediment

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

precisely as stated

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

(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 There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

which person or people

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

belonging to which person

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But the reader who has never been a teacher will very probably object, that some of our most illustrious public men have come direct from the homespun-clad class of the people,--and he may, perhaps, even find a noted scholar or two whose parents were masters of the English alphabet, but of no other.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The results which are habitually reached by hereditary training are occasionally brought about without it.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading It is not fair to pit a few chosen families against the great multitude of those who are continually working their way up into the intellectual classes.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading There are natural filters as well as artificial ones; and though the great rivers are commonly more or less turbid, if you will look long enough, you may find a spring that sparkles as no water does which drips through your apparatus of sands and sponges.