Chapter IV · My Father

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

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

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

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

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

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

a supporter who accepts something as true

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

brought into existence

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

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

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

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

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

open to doubt or suspicion

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

set up or found

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

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

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

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

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

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

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

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

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

of great significance or value

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

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

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

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

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

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 His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

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 His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

absolutely essential

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

impossible to quench

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

To recall to mind.

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

an educational institution

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

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

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

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

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He was doubtful of any other sort, if indeed he believed there could be any other sort.

a physiological need to drink

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

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

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading By some strange trick of fortune, he was born with a quenchless thirst for learning.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

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

From this reading My father was a great believer in education,—that is, in the learning that is found in books.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

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

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.

at the time that

From this reading Before this time I had learned to read simple sentences; for I cannot remember when my father began telling me how important and necessary it was to study books.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His strong faith in books, together with the fact that there were so many of us children around the house in my mother’s way, early drove me to the district school.