used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
advisernounUS /ædˈvaɪzər/
an expert who gives advice
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
albeitconjunctionUS /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/
although
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
(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 To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
backsliders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
boldnessnounUS /ˈboʊldnəs/
the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
approval
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
creednounUS /kriːd/
any system of principles or beliefs
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
ejectedverbUS /ɪˈdʒektɪd/
past form of “eject” — put out or expel from a place
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
an opposing military force
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading For example.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
opinion or judgment
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For example.
set up or found
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
frailtiesnounUS /ˈfreɪltiz/
plural of “frailty” — the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
HADauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
hot-headedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
a social unit living together
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
a boy or man
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
lad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
lapsedadjectiveUS /læpst/
no longer active or practicing
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
lenitynoun
mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/
plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
millstonenounUS /ˈmɪlstoʊn/
(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
a form of address for a man
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
netheradjectiveUS /ˈneðər/
lower
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
notableadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəbəl/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
persuasionnounUS /pərˈsweɪʒən/
the act of persuading (or attempting to persuade); communication intended to induce belief or action
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
primverbUS /prɪm/
assume a prim appearance
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
prodigalnounUS /ˈprɑːdɪɡəl/
a recklessly extravagant consumer
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
re-adjusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
respectabilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
RichardsonnounUS /ˈrɪtʃərdsən/
United States architect (1838-1886)
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
sinnersnounUS /ˈsɪnərz/
plural of “sinner” — a person who sins (without repenting)
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
Solomonproper nounUS /ˈsɒl.ə.mən/
A legendary king renowned for his wisdom and fabulous hidden mines.
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
not in physical motion
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
swornadjectiveUS /swɔːrn/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
a special situation
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
vicenounUS /vaɪs/
moral weakness
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of his boldness in dealing with the difficulties of his creed, I had a notable experience in the summer days that were with us.
at the time that
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
which person or people
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I HAD now been some months with Mr. Richardson, and had gained a closer acquaintance with his methods and means of influence.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading To all sinners and backsliders who admitted their frailties he was lenity itself; albeit the sworn enemy, by instinct and persuasion, of those prim respectabilities who never do a wrong thing or (worse still in his eyes) never a foolish one.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading To a lad who had lapsed into vice with the hot-headedness of youth, he was a kindly adviser; but hard as the nether millstone to the lad’s father, when he found he had ejected the prodigal from house and home, and then taken credit to himself for having re-adjusted his household with the wisdom of Solomon.
