used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading His father’s accident had made no impression on his emotions.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
baconnounUS /ˈbeɪkən/
back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked; usually sliced thin and fried
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
ContactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
egg-yolk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading His father’s accident had made no impression on his emotions.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
apart from; not including
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
a social unit living together
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father’s accident had made no impression on his emotions.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
greasenounUS /ɡriːs/
a thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery)
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
grown-ups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
hurly-burly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading His father’s accident had made no impression on his emotions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
intersectingadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈsektɪŋ/
crossed or intersected in the form of an X
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading His father’s accident had made no impression on his emotions.
engage in
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
not any; not one
From this reading His father’s accident had made no impression on his emotions.
no person; not anyone
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
rearrangementnounUS /riərˈeɪndʒmənt/
changing an arrangement
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
reveledverbUS /ˈrevəld/
past form of “revel” — take delight in
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
rompers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
spilledverbUS /spɪld/
past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
steeredverbUS /stɪrd/
past form of “steer” — direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
Stephen'snounUS /ˈstiːvənz/
possessive form of “stephen” — English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading He had always steered his small, hard life on a line of his own, a line he strove to make parallel to the course of the rest of the family, and never intersecting.
supervisionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈvɪʒən/
management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the hurly-burly of the rearrangement of life, nobody had been able to pay much attention to Stephen, and he had reveled in this freedom from supervision.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now that the grown-ups had almost forgotten his existence, he was enjoying life as never before, under his dirty, crumpled rompers, stiff with spilled egg-yolk and cold bacon grease.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Contact with others always meant trouble in Stephen’s experience--except with Henry and Helen.
