Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

performance of moral or religious acts

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

plural of “feat” — a notable achievement

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

past form of “fish” — seek indirectly

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

plural of “foundation” — the basis on which something is grounded

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

in a gradual manner

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

full of life and energy

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

social deportment

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

something you have to do

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

win approval or support for

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

plural of “seek” — the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

a person regarded as arrogant and annoying

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

someone who engages in sports

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

ostensibly valid, but not actually valid

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He has probably hunted several times without pleasure, or fished or shot here and there without success.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

except if; if not

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

without scruples or principles

From this reading By the aid of a lively and unscrupulous imagination, he gradually transmutes their experiences into his own.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But upon these slender foundations he could not rear the stupendous fabric of his deeds unless he had read much, and listened carefully to the narrations of others.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

in or at the place that

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

which person or people

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

in the company of; together with

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Such a man, of course, is not without knowledge on the matters of which he speaks.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading What the snob is to Society, the Spurious Sportsman is to sport; and thus where the former seeks to persuade the world that he is familiar with the manners, and accustomed to the intimate friendship of the great and highly placed, the latter will hold himself out as one who, in every branch of sport has achieved many notable feats on innumerable occasions.