Chapter I

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

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

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

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading The first trouble arose over his food.

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

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

brought into existence

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

the two together, not just one

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

a period of 100 years

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

a young person of either sex

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

plural of “container” — any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another)

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading The first trouble arose over his food.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

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

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

treated with dislike or contempt

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

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

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

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

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

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

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

a change for the better; progress in development

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

incapable of being explained or accounted for

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

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

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

someone unable to adapt to their circumstances

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

a Protestant in England who is not a member of the Church of England

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

above and across; more than

From this reading The first trouble arose over his food.

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

the state of being without a flaw or defect

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material)

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

extreme excess

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

established beyond doubt

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

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

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

a source of difficulty

From this reading The first trouble arose over his food.

coming next after the twentieth in position

From this reading The twenty-first century was perfect, and this inexplicable child did not like perfection.

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

having been warmed up

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.

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

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

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

From this reading His mother did not nurse him, since the doctors had proved that Baby-Lac, and the soft rainbow-colored plastic containers in which it was warmed and offered, were both a vast improvement on nature.

which person or people

From this reading _This was a century of peace, plethora and perfection, and little Steven was a misfit, a nonconformist, who hated perfection.

a late time of life

From this reading He had to learn the hard way...._ Steven Russell was born a misfit, a nonconformist, and for the first five years of his life he made himself and his parents extremely unhappy.