used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He had altered, almost incredibly, and yet he had not altered.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading He had altered, almost incredibly, and yet he had not altered.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had altered, almost incredibly, and yet he had not altered.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
athletenounUS /ˈæθliːt/
a person trained to compete in sports
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
chroniclesnounUS /ˈkrɑːnɪkəlz/
plural of “chronicle” — a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
creditableadjectiveUS /ˈkredətəbəl/
worthy of often limited commendation
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
debateverbUS /dəˈbeɪt/
argue with one another
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
EditornounUS /ˈedətər/
a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
set up or found
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
only a very short time before
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading He had altered, almost incredibly, and yet he had not altered.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
a boy or man
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
the act of departing
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
magazinenounUS /ˈmæɡəziːn/
a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
miserablyadverbUS /ˈmɪzərəbli/
in a miserable manner
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
a particular point in time
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
momentousadjectiveUS /moʊˈmentəs/
of very great significance
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had altered, almost incredibly, and yet he had not altered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
go across or through
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
recedingnounUS /rɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
a slow or gradual disappearance
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/
A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
an educational institution
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
Sedley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
self-possessedadjective
in full control of your faculties
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
seventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
specimennounUS /ˈspesəmən/
an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
in a swift manner
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
create by training and teaching
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading John found himself, on his seventeenth birthday, hardly aware that he was leaving boyhood behind him.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
which person or people
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
but in spite of that
From this reading He had altered, almost incredibly, and yet he had not altered.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading In the handsome, self-possessed lad, a leader of his house, something of a god to the younger boys, with already a distinguished 'career' behind him, as athlete and scholar, a President of the Literary Society, a leading light in debate, the Editor of the school magazine, Sedley indeed had a creditable specimen of its training.
youngsternounUS /ˈjʌŋstər/
a young person of either sex
From this reading He was very different from the shy sensitive youngster who on that momentous day of his arrival at Sedley had stood miserably on the platform watching with an aching heart the receding train.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading I The chronicles of youth, filled with trivial incidents, but acute at the moment of experience, swiftly pass.
