used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
anew
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading I tried a smoke to see if that would help me out of the difficulty.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
set up or found
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
an established custom
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading I tried a smoke to see if that would help me out of the difficulty.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I tried a smoke to see if that would help me out of the difficulty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
injuriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʊriəs/
harmful to living things
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
go away from a place
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I tried a smoke to see if that would help me out of the difficulty.
and nothing more
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
not any; not one
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
pledgesnounUS /ˈpledʒɪz/
plural of “pledge” — a deposit of personal property as security for a debt
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
in the near future
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
one of four equal parts
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
determined
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I tried a smoke to see if that would help me out of the difficulty.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
in a strange manner
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading I tried a smoke to see if that would help me out of the difficulty.
a source of difficulty
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
look attentively
From this reading In five days I drove out the desire to smoke and was not obliged to keep watch after that; and I never experienced any strong desire to smoke again.
at the time that
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But when I finally ceased from taking definite pledges, and merely resolved that I would kill an injurious desire, but leave myself free to resume the desire and the habit whenever I should choose to do so, I had no more trouble.
produce a literary work
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading At the end of a year and a quarter of idleness I began to write a book, and presently found that the pen was strangely reluctant to go.
