used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
how long something has existed
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
arduousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrdʒuːəs/
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
a young person of either sex
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
someone who is a detective
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
DICK'SnounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading DICK'S MISTAKE.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
the literary culture
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/
understood perfectly
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading DICK'S MISTAKE.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
many times at short intervals
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
perseveringadjectiveUS /pərsəˈvɪrɪŋ/
quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
pricelessadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪsləs/
having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
spelling-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
syllablenounUS /ˈsɪləbəl/
a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading He encouraged him to come often to his room to see him, and finding he could not read, he commenced to try to teach him.
precisely as stated
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
WaltersnounUS /ˈwɔːltərz/
plural of “walter” — German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He bought a spelling-book, and began what was in truth a most difficult and arduous task to one of his age.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But Dick was quick, and Walters persevering, and in course of time the letters were mastered, and then came words of one syllable.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading FROM that day Dick had a friend in old Walters--a very humble one, but of priceless worth to the neglected child.
