used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
(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 Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
take in solid food
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
at any time
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
only a very short time before
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
as might be expected
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
pinchingverbUS /ˈpɪntʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “pinch” — squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
privationnounUS /praɪˈveɪʃən/
a state of extreme poverty
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
express in words
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He had seen little happiness in his short life.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
a special situation
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this was to be changed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
toilsomeadjective
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
From this reading Cold and pinching privation, and long, toilsome days in the streets, had been his portion hitherto.
precisely as stated
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JACK was naturally very much excited by the new prospects that opened out before him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is a sad thing to say that he had hardly ever known what it was to eat a full meal.
