used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
anew
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
how long something has existed
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
for the reason that
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
CHRISTIANITYnounUS /ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti/
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
clergynounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒi/
in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity)
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
congenialadjectiveUS /kənˈdʒiːnjəl/
suitable to your needs
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
dead-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
being one more than ten
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
enthusiastnounUS /enˈθuːziæst/
an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
divisible by two
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
failsverbUS /feɪlz/
third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
forty-fivenounUS /ˈfɔːrtifaɪv/
a .45-caliber pistol
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
letsnounUS /lets/
plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
missionarynounUS /ˈmɪʃəneri/
someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
missionsnounUS /ˈmɪʃənz/
plural of “mission” — an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
MUSCULARadjectiveUS /ˈmʌskjələr/
of or relating to or consisting of muscle
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
OrdinarilyadverbUS /ˌɔːrdəˈnerəli/
under normal conditions
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
primeadjectiveUS /praɪm/
first in rank or degree
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
cause to move by pulling
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
repeatingnounUS /rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/
the act of doing or performing again
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
sermonnounUS /ˈsɜːrmən/
an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
seventyadjectiveUS /ˈsevənti/
being ten more than sixty
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
starveverbUS /stɑːrv/
be hungry; go without food
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
not in physical motion
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
undergo or be subjected to
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Why should a doctor reach his highest professional value at seventy, and a parson be past the "dead-line" at forty-five?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY It was eleven o'clock at night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mrs. Betty had retired, while her husband was still struggling to finish a sermon on the importance of foreign missions.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading He tried hard to pull himself together, but over and over again the question kept repeating itself in his tired brain: Why should the Church support foreign missions, while she lets her hard working clergy at home suffer and half starve in their old age, and even fails to give them decent support while they are working in their prime?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Ordinarily, the work would have been congenial and easy for him, because he was an enthusiast in the matter of missionary work: but now for some reason his thoughts were confused; his enthusiasm was lacking, and his pen dragged.
