1900
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading September, 1900.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
adultsnounUS /əˈdʌlts/
plural of “adult” — a fully developed person from maturity onward
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
anew
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
amoeba-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
formlessadjective
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
FreshmannounUS /ˈfreʃmən/
a first-year undergraduate
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
FreshmennounUS /ˈfreʃmɪn/
plural of “freshman” — a first-year undergraduate
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
impersonality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
many-membered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
Neale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
only a very short time before
From this reading He could scarcely tell himself apart from the other Freshmen.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading September, 1900.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
express in words
From this reading Nobody could tell him apart from any other Freshman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading Just as Neale had felt himself an amoeba-like cell among the finished, many-membered adults of his parents' circle, so he was now again only one more wriggle in the mass of Freshmen.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The first weeks of Freshman year were like a return to the formless impersonality of little boyhood.
