used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
how long something has existed
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
(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 He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
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 In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
comprehensionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhenʃən/
an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
wanted intensely
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
discouragementnounUS /dɪˈskɜːrɪdʒmənt/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
being one more than seventeen
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
the force of workers available
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
a particular point in time
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
nobleradjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblər/
comparative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
move upward
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
not in physical motion
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
UnawaresadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈwerz/
without forethought or plan; inadvertently
From this reading Caught Unawares At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of discouragement.
unsatisfiedadjectiveUS /ənˈsætɪsfaɪd/
not having been satisfied
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
precisely as stated
From this reading In fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
(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 His health was so poor that he did not know a well moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living.
