used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
(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 All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
ambitionsnounUS /æmˈbɪʃənz/
plural of “ambition” — a cherished desire
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
aspirationsnounUS /ˌæspərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “aspiration” — a will to succeed
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
barrennessnoun
the state (usually of a woman) of having no children or being unable to have children
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
a youthful male person
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
Boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
decreeverbUS /dɪˈkriː/
issue a decree
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
developingadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpɪŋ/
relating to societies in which capital needed to industrialize is in short supply
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
opinion or judgment
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
yet to be or coming
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
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 But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
nourishedadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃt/
being provided with adequate nourishment
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
and nothing more
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/
plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
rebellionnounUS /rɪˈbeljən/
refusal to accept some authority or code or convention
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
cut with a saw
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
shadeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The hot sun beat down upon the shadeless prairies with the intensity of a living flame.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
the act of using
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
Verdayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And Paul Verdayne, understanding as only he could understand, felt how little use his companionship and sympathy really were at this crisis of the Boy's life.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Out--far out--in the great American West, the Boy wandered.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
in the company of; together with
From this reading All through the month of August they travelled, the Boy looking upon the land he had been so eager to see with eyes that saw nothing but his own disappointment, and the barrenness of his future.
witheringadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərɪŋ/
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
From this reading But it seemed as nothing to the heat of his own passion--his own fiery rebellion against the decree of destiny--altogether powerless against the withering despair that had choked all the aspirations and ambitions which, his whole life long, he had cultivated and nourished in the soil of his developing soul.
