used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
terminate
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
courageousadjectiveUS /kərˈeɪdʒəs/
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
exhaustingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪŋ/
having a debilitating effect
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
destroyed or killed
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
an established custom
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
Hannah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
not any; not one
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
nothingnessnounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋnəs/
the state of nonexistence
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Poor Reuben!
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
ReubennounUS /ˈruːbən/
(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel
From this reading Poor Reuben!
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The morning after his sudden show of spirit to David he felt himself, to his own miserable surprise, no more courageous than he had been before it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
at the time that
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the crisis which had looked so near delayed!
in the company of; together with
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He contracted a habit of getting by himself in the fields and puzzling his brain with figures--an occupation so unfamiliar and exhausting that it wore him a good deal; and Hannah, when he came in at night, would wonder, with a start, whether he were beginning 'to break up.'
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the impression made had gone too deep to end in nothingness.
