used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
a youthful male person
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
compassionateverbUS /kəmˈpæʃənət/
share the suffering of
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
externaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
opinion or judgment
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
LaureatenounUS /ˈlɔːriət/
someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wreath
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
easily agitated
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading PERSONAL.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
ravenverbUS /ˈreɪvən/
obtain or seize by violence
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
robustadjectiveUS /roʊˈbʌst/
sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading He is of the nervous temperament, and his health has never been robust.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
WhittiernounUS /ˈwɪtiər/
United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Indeed, in later life the state of his health has often been precarious, and his plans for work have been at the mercy of his nerves.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading As a boy, Whittier grew up slender, delicate, and shy, with dark hair and dark eyes; his nature silent and brooding, gentle, compassionate, religious, and sensitive to the beauty of the external world.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading As a young man, and crowned Laureate of Freedom, Whittier must have presented a striking appearance, with his raven hair, and glittering black eyes flashing with the inspiration of a great cause.
