Chapter X · Chapter 10

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

(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 In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

a quantity of money

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

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

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

a youthful male person

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading My theory of the business was entirely different.

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading My theory of the business was entirely different.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

plural of “food” — any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

providing only bare essentials

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

adult female chicken

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

ten 10s

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

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

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

past form of “invest” — make an investment

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My theory of the business was entirely different.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

plural of “price” — the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

plural of “quantity” — how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

the upper part of anything

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

two times

From this reading He had a lot of practical knowledge of the business, for he had _failed_ in it twice; and I could furnish any amount of theory, and enough money to prevent disaster.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

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

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHAT SHALL WE ASK OF THE HEN?

at the time that

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

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

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sam Jones, the chicken-loving man, was as pleased as a boy with a new top when I began to talk of a hen plant.

be the cause or source of

From this reading In his previous attempts he had invested nearly all his small capital in a plant that might yield two hundred eggs a day; he had to buy all foods in small quantities, and therefore at high prices; and he had to give his whole time to a business which was too small and too much on the hand-to-mouth order to give him a living profit.