used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
acquireverbUS /əˈkwaɪər/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
a cherished desire
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
any thing at all
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
Baron'snounUS /ˈbærənz/
possessive form of “baron” — a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
Beattie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
a youthful male person
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
bustlingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌsəlɪŋ/
full of energetic and noisy activity
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
a person who is in charge
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
conceiveverbUS /kənˈsiːv/
have the idea for
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəs/
having or expressing desire for something
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
energeticadjectiveUS /ˌenərˈdʒetɪk/
possessing or exerting or displaying energy
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
at any time
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
gentle-tempered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
a boy or man
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
Lendrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
engage in
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
marketableadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrkətəbəl/
being in demand by especially employers
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
ponderverbUS /ˈpɑːndər/
reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
professorshipnounUS /prəˈfesərʃɪp/
the position of professor
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
pursueverbUS /pərˈsuː/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
on the contrary
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
move hurridly
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
spherenounUS /sfɪr/
a particular environment or walk of life
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
not in physical motion
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/
plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
studiousadjectiveUS /ˈstuːdiəs/
marked by care and effort
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
male cat
From this reading “Tom Lendrick,” as he still called him to himself, he had known as a boy, and ever liked him.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading Anything more unlike that bustling, energetic, daring spirit, his father, would be hard to conceive.
precisely as stated
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As Dr. Beattie drove off with all speed to the Chief Baron's house, which lay about three miles from the city, he had time to ponder as he went over his late interview.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had been a patient, studious, gentle-tempered lad, desirous to acquire knowledge, without any of that ambition that wants to make the knowledge marketable.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To have gained a professorship would have appeared to have been the very summit of his ambition, and this rather as a quiet retreat to pursue his studies further than as a sphere wherein to display his own gifts.
