1827
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1827-1831.
1831
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1827-1831.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
achievementsnounUS /əˈtʃiːvmənts/
plural of “achievement” — the action of accomplishing something
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
(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 Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading BOSTON AND THE AMERICAN MONTHLY.
a quantity of money
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BOSTON AND THE AMERICAN MONTHLY.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading BOSTON AND THE AMERICAN MONTHLY.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
currentsnounUS /ˈkɜːrənts/
plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
declineverbUS /dɪˈklaɪn/
grow worse
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
a social unit living together
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
inbornadjectiveUS /ˈɪnbɔːrn/
present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
the literary culture
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
manifestverbUS /ˈmænəfest/
provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
MONTHLYnounUS /ˈmʌnθli/
a periodical that is published every month (or 12 issues per year)
From this reading BOSTON AND THE AMERICAN MONTHLY.
not any; not one
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
having a point
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
self-confidencenounUS /ˌselfˈkɑːnfədəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/
plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
talentsnounUS /ˈtælənts/
plural of “talent” — natural abilities or qualities
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
tastesnounUS /teɪsts/
plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BOSTON AND THE AMERICAN MONTHLY.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
traditionnounUS /trəˈdɪʃən/
an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Family tradition, his inborn tastes and talents, the course of his studies, and his achievements hitherto, all pointed that way.
Willis'snounUS /ˈwɪlɪsɪz/
possessive form of “willis” — English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading The profession of letters was Willis’s manifest destiny.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet in the then state of the American press it took no small amount of self-confidence to decline a paying profession and launch upon the uncertain currents of literary life.
