used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
BURNHAM'SnounUS /ˈbɜːrnəmz/
possessive form of “burnham” — United States architect who designed the first important skyscraper with a skeleton (1846-1912)
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — 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 He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
dignifiedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
ERSKINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
divisible by two
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
at any time
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
accept an excuse for
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
freshmennounUS /ˈfreʃmɪn/
plural of “freshman” — a first-year undergraduate
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
Haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
IDEALadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
invariableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbəl/
not liable to or capable of change
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
and nothing more
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
a unit of instruction
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
privatelyadverbUS /ˈpraɪvətli/
kept private or confined to those intimately concerned
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
resistedverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪd/
past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
sophomoresnounUS /ˈsɑːfmɔːrz/
plural of “sophomore” — a second-year undergraduate
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Haven't time for society just now," was his invariable excuse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IDEAL CONDITIONS ERSKINE BURNHAM'S lesson was short, but sharp, and he seemed to have learned it thoroughly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He gave himself more persistently to study than before, and was even more devoted to his mother than ever, if that were possible.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He let the visiting sisters of freshmen and sophomores dignifiedly alone, and resisted without a sigh numerous attempts to draw him into local society circles.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Nor inclination," he would add privately for his mother's benefit.
