used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
(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 I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
ardentlyadverbUS /ˈɑːrdəntli/
in an ardent manner
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
the two together, not just one
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
breakwaternounUS /ˈbreɪkwɔːtər/
a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
buffernounUS /ˈbʌfər/
(chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
a state at a particular time
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
wanted intensely
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
one or the other of two
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
exhibitionnounUS /ˌeksəˈbɪʃən/
the act of exhibiting
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
expendedverbUS /ɪkˈspendɪd/
past form of “expend” — use up, consume fully
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
fellow'snounUS /ˈfeloʊz/
possessive form of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
ill-treatmentnoun
cruel or inhumane treatment
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
inhumanitynounUS /ˌɪnhjuːˈmænəti/
the quality of lacking compassion or consideration for others
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
engage in
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
in other respects or ways
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
pitiedverbUS /ˈpɪtiːd/
inflected form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
progressingverbUS /prəˈɡresɪŋ/
-ing form of “progress” — develop in a positive way
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
shieldedadjectiveUS /ˈʃiːldɪd/
(used especially of machinery) protected by a shield to prevent injury
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
not in physical motion
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I pitied him for all that, though I dared not make exhibition either of my pity or sympathy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
tyrantsnounUS /ˈtaɪrənts/
plural of “tyrant” — a cruel and oppressive dictator
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed as if the poor fellow's misery was to me an advantage, and shielded me from a good deal of ill-treatment I should otherwise have experienced.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
at the time that
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He stood between me and our common tyrants as a sort of breakwater or "buffer," upon which their inhumanity expended most of its strength!
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading I had need of both for myself, for although I have said that my condition was improved, I was still miserable--wretched as I could well be.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And why? you will ask,--Why wretched now, when I had got over most of the first difficulties, and was steadily progressing in the profession I had so ardently desired to belong to?
