used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading ON FINISHING WHAT IS BEGUN.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
compositionsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “composition” — the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
exertsverbUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrts/
third-person singular of “exert” — put to use
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
fickleadjectiveUS /ˈfɪkəl/
marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
FINISHINGnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading ON FINISHING WHAT IS BEGUN.
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
an established custom
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON FINISHING WHAT IS BEGUN.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading There is James Scott.
the act of departing
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
the literary culture
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
engage in
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
not any; not one
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON FINISHING WHAT IS BEGUN.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading There is James Scott.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
strewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is James Scott.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading Beginning things and leaving them unfinished, exerts a bad influence in the formation of character.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ON FINISHING WHAT IS BEGUN.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If you go into his room, you will find his table strewed, and his drawer filled, with compositions begun and not completed; scraps of verses, but no poem finished; letters commenced, but not completed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If it becomes a habit, it will make you so fickle that no one will put confidence in you.
