used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
highly skilled
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
brain-power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
BurnhamnounUS /ˈbɜːrnəm/
United States architect who designed the first important skyscraper with a skeleton (1846-1912)
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
comprehensionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhenʃən/
an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
at any time
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
HEARKENverb
listen; used mostly in the imperative
From this reading “HEARKEN UNTO ME.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “HEARKEN UNTO ME.”
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
not any; not one
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
possessesverbUS /pəˈzesəz/
third-person singular of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
capable of happening or existing
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
preachverbUS /priːtʃ/
deliver a sermon
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading What possible good can he think he has accomplished, if that is his motive?
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
UNTOprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/
an old word for “to”
From this reading “HEARKEN UNTO ME.”
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading This was what Judge Burnham said, as he walked with his wife home from the morning service.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “IT passes my comprehension how a man with no more development of brain-power than that one possesses made the mistake of thinking he was called to preach!”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Did you ever hear an effort more devoid of ideas?
