used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
annualadjectiveUS /ˈænjuːəl/
completing its life cycle within a year
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
a youthful male person
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
conformverbUS /kənˈfɔːrm/
be similar, be in line with
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
continualadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/
recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
dispensedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspenst/
distributed or weighted out in carefully determined portions
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/
past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
George'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/
possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
godfathernounUS /ˈɡɑːdfɑːðər/
any man who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
HOBBYnounUS /ˈhɑːbi/
an auxiliary activity
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
engage in
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
and nothing more
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
philosophicadjectiveUS /ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪk/
of or relating to philosophy or philosophers
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
purgatorynounUS /ˈpɜːrɡətɔːri/
a temporary condition of torment or suffering
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
relinquishedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃt/
that has been withdrawn or retreated from
From this reading But he never relinquished his efforts to make William conform to it.
resolutelyadverbUS /ˈresəluːtli/
showing firm determination or purpose
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
upbringingnounUS /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/
properties acquired during a person's formative years
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Uncle George's annual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Uncle George had an ideal of what a boy should be, and it was a continual grief to him that William fell so short of this ideal.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
WILLIAM'SnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading WILLIAM'S HOBBY Uncle George was William's godfather, and he was intensely interested in William's upbringing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was an interest with which William would gladly have dispensed.
