used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
aidsnounUS /eɪdz/
a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
completely unclothed
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
a youthful male person
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
BubbleverbUS /ˈbʌbəl/
form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
cleanestadjectiveUS /ˈkliːnəst/
superlative of “clean” — free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
ConceitnounUS /kənˈsiːt/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
true confidential information
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
divisible by two
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
the organ of sight
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
fistsnounUS /fɪsts/
plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
inculcatesverbUS /ˈɪŋkəlkeɪts/
third-person singular of “inculcate” — teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
by chance
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
musclenounUS /ˈmʌsəl/
one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
as might be expected
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
not any; not one
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
on one occasion
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
and nothing more
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
a human being
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
PrickedverbUS /prɪkt/
past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
except for; apart from
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
sportsnounUS /spɔːrts/
plural of “sport” — an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
teachesnounUS /ˈtiːtʃəz/
plural of “teach” — an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/
showing fear and lack of confidence
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
two times
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
(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 It is all well and good for a boy to learn to box; it is one of the cleanest sports there is.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _In Which the Bubble of My Conceit Is Pricked_ Now this is no place to report the details of a fight of this character.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Maybe once or twice in the average boy’s life will he need the knowledge gained in the gymnasium to save himself from a beating.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It teaches one to be quick of eye and foot, inculcates courage, gives even a naturally timid person confidence, and aids wind and muscle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the game should be played only with soft gloves--never with bare fists.
