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 There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

a written work (as a novel) that has been recast in a new form

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

Having no one else present.

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

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

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

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

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

for the reason that

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

relatively low in price or charging low prices

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

one or the other of two

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

past form of “exclude” — prevent from being included or considered or accepted

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

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

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

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

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

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

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

in an intelligent manner

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

third-person singular of “interpret” — make sense of; assign a meaning to

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

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

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

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 A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

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 There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

suggesting an unhealthy mental state

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

and nothing more

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

in a professional manner

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

in a rigorous manner

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

chosen in preference to another

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

given to or marked by sentiment or sentimentality

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

in a special manner

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

past form of “stamp” — walk heavily

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

undergo or be subjected to

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

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

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

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

From this reading But these stories, like the food given to the body, ought to be intelligently selected, not only for their quality but for their adaptation.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria

From this reading Goody-good and professionally "pious" stories, sentimental or unreal stories, ought to be rigorously excluded.

the quality possessed by something that is unreal

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

detrimental to physical or moral well-being

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

(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 Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

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

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading There are many good books which ought not to be in the hands of children because children have not had the experience which interprets them; they will either fail to understand, or if they understand, they will suffer a sudden forcing of growth in the knowledge of life which is always unwholesome.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A great deal of fiction specially written for children ought to be left severely alone; it is cheap, shallow and stamped with unreality from cover to cover.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Only stories which are sound in the views of life they present ought to be within the reach of children; these stories ought to be well constructed and well written; they ought to be largely objective stories; they ought not to be introspective, morbid or abnormal in any way.