Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

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

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

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

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

the property of having a relatively great size

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

plural of “cobweb” — a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

the feeling of being displeased and discontent

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

take in liquids

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

an abstract part of something

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

an association of criminals

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

an established custom

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

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

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

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

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

one retired from society for religious reasons

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

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

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

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

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

possessive form of “johnny” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

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

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

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

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

plural of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

possessive form of “o'hara” — United States writer (1905-1970)

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

on one occasion

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

the quality of being widely admired or accepted or sought after

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

third-person singular of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

an executive officer of a firm or corporation

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

likely but not certain to be or become true or real

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

with speed

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

full of or marked by resentment or indignant ill will

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

determined

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

adhering to moral principles

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

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

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

a person who directs and manages an organization

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

cut a female screw thread with a tap

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

dramatist of ancient Rome (born in Greece) whose comedies were based on works by Menander (190?-159 BC)

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."

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

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

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

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

an implement used in the practice of a vocation

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

(often followed by “of”) not aware

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

not slowed or blocked or interfered with

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

an old word for “to”

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

the act of using

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

past form of “ward” — watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect

From this reading There was dissatisfaction among the miners; a strike was probable; the popularity of the new superintendent warded it off from month to month, which counted unto him for righteousness in the mind of the president, of which Johnny himself was unaware.

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

From this reading The habit of bigness, once caught, possesses one as quickly as the habit of drink; Johnny McLean was as unhampered by the net of smallnesses which tangle most of us as a hermit; the freedom gave him a power which was fast making a marked man of him.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

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

From this reading On the night of the Tap Day which had so shaken him, he had struck the key-note.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He had resolved to use his life as if it were a tool in his hand to do work, and he had so used it.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet the cobwebs grew; there was an element not reached by, resentful of, the atmosphere of Johnny's friendliness--"Terence O'Hara's gang."