Chapter II

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

(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 It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

a cherished desire

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AN INVENTION DESCRIBED.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

a youthful male person

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

past form of “conquer” — bring under control by force or authority

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

gotten under control

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading AN INVENTION DESCRIBED.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

past form of “entrust” — confer a trust upon

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

obtain

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

-ing form of “guard” — to keep watch over

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

plural of “hardship” — a state of misfortune or affliction

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

the creation of something in the mind

From this reading AN INVENTION DESCRIBED.

plural of “inventor” — someone who is the first to think of or make something

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

plural of “obstacle” — something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

come into possession of

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

above and across; more than

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

persistent determination

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

in a singular manner or to a singular degree

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

refrain from harming

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

plural of “specification” — a detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

declared as fact; explicitly stated

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

past form of “triumph” — prove superior

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

at the time that

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading When Ned’s uncle, Jeptha Nevins, had died, he had entrusted to the boy the tin box which we have seen Ned guarding with so much care.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ned Nevins had told nothing but the simple truth when he stated that he had endured many hardships and much rough travel under unpleasant conditions in order to obtain an interview with the Boy Inventors.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He was a boy of singularly firm character and persistency or he would never have triumphed over the obstacles he had conquered in order to gain his ambition.

a late time of life

From this reading It contained plans and specifications of an invention upon which the elder Nevins had spent all his spare time for many years.