1
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
AmbitionnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/
a cherished desire
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
ambitionsnounUS /æmˈbɪʃənz/
plural of “ambition” — a cherished desire
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That was, to be a steamboatman.
becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
BoysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of burning something
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
circusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
clownsnounUS /klaʊnz/
plural of “clown” — a rude or vulgar fool
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
footnotenounUS /ˈfʊtnoʊt/
a printed note placed below the text on a printed page
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
HannibalnounUS /ˈhænɪbəl/
general who commanded the Carthaginian army in the second Punic War; crossed the Alps and defeated the Romans but was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated (247-182 BC)
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
minstrelnounUS /ˈmɪnstrəl/
a singer of folk songs
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
MissourinounUS /məˈzʊri/
a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
permitnounUS /pərˈmɪt/
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
sectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
showverbUS /ʃoʊ/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
steamboatman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was, to be a steamboatman.
sufferingnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/
a state of acute pain
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was, to be a steamboatman.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That was, to be a steamboatman.
transientnounUS /ˈtrænʒənt/
one who stays for only a short time
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
tryverbUS /traɪ/
make an effort or attempt
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Hannibal, Missouri]} on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Boys' Ambition WHEN I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village {footnote [1.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
