used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
any thing at all
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
boot-heel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
boot-sole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
coffin-ships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
confoundedlyadverb
in a perplexed manner
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
without deviation
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
one or the other of two
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
at any time
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
gentilitynounUS /dʒenˈtɪlɪti/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
an opening into or through something
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
and nothing more
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
immediately past
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
engage in
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
a particular point in time
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
on the contrary
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
not used up
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
To recall to mind.
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
precisely, exactly
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
ticketnounUS /ˈtɪkət/
a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
troddenverbUS /ˈtrɑːdən/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
unsoldadjectiveUS /ənˈsoʊld/
not disposed of by purchase
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I was confoundedly hard up myself about that time, having just come ashore from a trip in one of those coffin-ships, as they call them now.
precisely as stated
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Run" they wanted to make out, but it wasn't much of a run, either.
(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 don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
wonderfullyadverbUS /ˈwʌndərfəli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading I don't remember ever having a boot-heel brought so directly under my observation which was so wonderfully trodden down on one side.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading In a moment of confidence, too, he showed me a hole in the right boot-sole that he had worn benefit cards over, on the inside--some of the unsold ones remaining from his last ticket night.
but in spite of that
From this reading I don't think he had ever done any very great things at it before I met with him; anyhow, he was rather down on his luck just then, and shabby-- well, anything nearer rags, and yet making believe to have an air of gentility about it, I never came across.
