used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
absurditynounUS /əbˈsɜːrdəti/
a message whose content is at variance with reason
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
assimilatingadjectiveUS /əˈsɪməleɪtɪŋ/
capable of taking (gas, light, or liquids) into a solution
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
consistsverbUS /kənˈsɪsts/
third-person singular of “consist” — originate
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
contributionnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈbjuːʃən/
the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
digestingverbUS /daɪˈdʒestɪŋ/
-ing form of “digest” — convert food into absorbable substances
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
at any time
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
flintnounUS /flɪnt/
a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
the act of departing
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
growsverbUS /ɡroʊz/
third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
insistverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪst/
be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
inventsverbUS /ˌɪnˈvents/
third-person singular of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
match-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
not any; not one
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
originalitynounUS /ərˌɪdʒəˈnælɪti/
the ability to think and act independently
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
patent-right
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
pinchverbUS /pɪntʃ/
squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Originality consists in power of digesting and assimilating thought, so that they become part of our life and substance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This notion of an absolute originality, as if one could have a patent-right in it, is an absurdity.
ThoreaunounUS /θərˈoʊ/
United States writer and social critic (1817-1862)
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A man cannot escape in thought, any more than he can in language, from the past and the present.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
the act of using
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
at the time that
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Thoreau seems to us to insist in public on going back to flint and steel, when there is a match-box in his pocket which he knows very well how to use at a pinch.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
but in spite of that
From this reading As no one ever invents a word, and yet language somehow grows by general contribution and necessity, so it is with thought.
