used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
acquisitivenessnoun
strong desire to acquire and possess
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
(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 During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
calamitiesnounUS /kəˈlæmətiz/
plural of “calamity” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
civilizedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
placed crosswise
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
discontentedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈtentɪd/
showing or experiencing dissatisfaction or restless longing
From this reading He was profoundly discontented.
duckingnounUS /ˈdʌkɪŋ/
hunting ducks
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
easy-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
embarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
ErminenounUS /ˈɜːrmən/
the expensive white fur of the ermine
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was profoundly discontented.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
inconveniencesnounUS /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjənsɪz/
plural of “inconvenience” — an inconvenient discomfort
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
long-continued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
a human being
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
participate in games or sport
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
profoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading He was profoundly discontented.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
an educational institution
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
tantalizationnoun
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During his life he had been at all times an easy-going person--taught in a rude school to endure embarrassing calamities and long-continued personal inconveniences by flood and hunger, bullets and snow.
traitnounUS /treɪt/
a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were idly attracted by the play of shadows on the ducking, but his mind was visiting other places.
whereby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no conception of the civilized trait of acquisitiveness whereby he had escaped that tantalization.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN LOVE John Ermine lay on his back in his tent, with one leg crossed over the other.
