used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a time success swayed in the balance indeterminate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading For a time success swayed in the balance indeterminate.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
terminate
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
educationaladjectiveUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃənəl/
relating to the process of education
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
expedients
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
heroicadjectiveUS /hɪˈroʊɪk/
very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a time success swayed in the balance indeterminate.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
indeterminateadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪt/
not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance
From this reading For a time success swayed in the balance indeterminate.
ingenuitynounUS /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/
the power of creative imagination
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
insubordinationnounUS /ˌɪnsəbɔːrdəˈneɪʃən/
defiance of authority
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
OaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
problemsnounUS /ˈprɑːbləmz/
plural of “problem” — a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
rovingnounUS /ˈroʊvɪŋ/
travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
scholarsnounUS /ˈskɑːlərz/
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
get by special effort
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
studentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/
plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading For a time success swayed in the balance indeterminate.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading For a time success swayed in the balance indeterminate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
treatmentnounUS /ˈtriːtmənt/
care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury)
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading Sometimes it seemed impossible to break to habits of application, to harness the attention of these wildly roving minds.
people who are wounded
From this reading He did not love the spectacle of wounded pride, but the heroic treatment of bluff ridicule had the happiest effect.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading These promised Desmond food for much thought for an indefinite time, and roused him to an ingenuity of expedients to secure the best efforts of the young scholars themselves.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading The insubordination of the youthful students at Great Oaks was happily at an end, but their educational problems remained.
