used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
how long something has existed
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
take in solid food
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
educatedadjectiveUS /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/
possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading WILLIE'S EDUCATION.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
engage in
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
not any; not one
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
in the near future
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
a special situation
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading The gift of reading, he said, was too good a thing to give him before he wished to have it, or knew the value of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
WILLIE'SnounUS /ˈwɪliz/
possessive form of “willies” — feelings of uneasiness
From this reading WILLIE'S EDUCATION.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading It was not that he was stupid, as we shall soon see, but that he had not learned the good of reading, and therefore had not begun to wish to read; and his father had unusual ideas about how he ought to be educated.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He said he would no more think of making Willie learn to read before he wished to be taught than he would make him eat if he wasn't hungry.
a late time of life
From this reading Willie was a good deal more than nine years of age before he could read a single word.
