used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
a quantity of money
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
ancestraladjectiveUS /ænˈsestrəl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
blessednessnounUS /ˈblesədnəs/
a state of supreme happiness
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
BULLYINGnounUS /ˈbʊliɪŋ/
the act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/
a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
ill-treatedadjective
subjected to cruel treatment
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
mornnounUS /mɔːrn/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
used to form the superlative
From this reading Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
not any; not one
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
many times at short intervals
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal.
pseudo-instinctive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
repressverbUS /riˈpres/
put down by force or intimidation
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BULLYING “Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness.”
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
hard to endure
From this reading Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated?
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading I have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of “wild trick of the ancestral savage,” which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress.
WordsworthnounUS /ˈwɜːrdzwərθ/
a romantic English poet whose work was inspired by the Lake District where he spent most of his life (1770-1850)
From this reading Wordsworth.
