used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
alarmsnounUS /əˈlɑːrmz/
plural of “alarm” — fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
burdensomeadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrdənsəm/
not easily borne; wearing
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
lacking grace in movement or posture
From this reading He had short, clumsy fingers on puffy hands.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
a boy or man
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He had short, clumsy fingers on puffy hands.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He had short, clumsy fingers on puffy hands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
humiliationsnounUS /ˌhjuːmɪliˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “humiliation” — state of disgrace or loss of self-respect
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
ill-favoredadjective
usually used of a face
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
insultsnounUS /ˌɪnˈsʌlts/
plural of “insult” — a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had short, clumsy fingers on puffy hands.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
pimplesnounUS /ˈpɪmpəlz/
plural of “pimple” — a small inflamed elevation of the skin; a pustule or papule; common symptom in acne
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
puffyadjectiveUS /ˈpʌfi/
being puffed out; used of hair style or clothing
From this reading He had short, clumsy fingers on puffy hands.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
scarsnounUS /skɑːrz/
plural of “scar” — a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
scrofulousadjective
afflicted with scrofula
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
do one's shopping
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
shopkeepernounUS /ˈʃɑːpkiːpər/
a merchant who owns or manages a shop
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He had short, clumsy fingers on puffy hands.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
sweatingnounUS /ˈswetɪŋ/
the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
in a swift manner
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
tailor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
in or at the place that
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I have sad and ludicrous reasons for remembering the burdensome humiliations, insults, and alarms which my swiftly developed passion for reading brought me.
a Caucasian
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The books of the tailor's wife looked as if they were terribly expensive, and as I was afraid that the old mistress might burn them in the stove, I tried not to think of them, and began to buy small colored books from the shop where I bought bread in the mornings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The shopkeeper was an ill-favored fellow with thick lips.
wizenadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzən/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading He was given to sweating, had a white, wizen face covered with scrofulous scars and pimples, and his eyes were white.
