used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
equally
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
(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 Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
animatesverbUS /ˈænəməts/
third-person singular of “animate” — heighten or intensify
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
cherishverbUS /ˈtʃerɪʃ/
be fond of; be attached to
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
chimney-sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
Crowell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
earthlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrθli/
of or belonging to or characteristic of this earth as distinguished from heaven
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
endowmentnounUS /enˈdaʊmənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
environmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
EssaynounUS /eˈseɪ/
an analytic or interpretive literary composition
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
idealsnounUS /aɪˈdiːlz/
plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
indisputableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪsˈpjuːtəbəl/
not open to question; obviously true
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
KellernounUS /ˈkelər/
United States lecturer and writer who was blind and deaf from the age of 19 months
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
Mdcccciii
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
the force of workers available
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
Merrymount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
not any; not one
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
OptimismnounUS /ˈɑːptəmɪzəm/
the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
optimistsnounUS /ˈɑːptəmɪsts/
plural of “optimist” — a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
philosophernounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfər/
a specialist in philosophy
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
precisely, exactly
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
unusual or striking
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
express a supposition
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
synonymousadjectiveUS /səˈnɑːnəməs/
(of words) meaning the same or nearly the same
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
undertakingsnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋz/
plural of “undertaking” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
UpdikenounUS /ˈʌpdaɪk/
United States author (born 1932)
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Certainly most of us regard happiness as the proper end of all earthly enterprise.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
well-spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is curious to observe what different ideals of happiness people cherish, and in what singular places they look for this well-spring of their life.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The will to be happy animates alike the philosopher, the prince and the chimney-sweep.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
YnounUS /waɪ/
a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Optimism An Essay By Helen Keller Author of “The Story of My Life” New York T. Y. Crowell and Company Mdcccciii D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston Part i Optimism Within Could we choose our environment, and were desire in human undertakings synonymous with endowment, all men would, I suppose, be optimists.
