used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
believernounUS /bəˈliːvər/
a supporter who accepts something as true
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
culminationnounUS /ˌkʌlməˈneɪʃən/
a final climactic stage
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
cause to move by striking
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
IrvingnounUS /ˈɜːrvɪŋ/
United States writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
maximnounUS /ˈmæksəm/
a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
PUPILnounUS /ˈpjuːpəl/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
rectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
express a supposition
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
a special situation
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
a source of difficulty
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It wasn’t so much any one thing,” replied Irving.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading MASTER TURNS PUPIL The rector received Irving with a smile.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Would you mind telling me what was the trouble?”
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading “It was a culmination of little things.—Oh, I suppose I started in wrong with the fellows somehow.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Well,” he said, “I think you must be a believer in the maxim, ‘Hit hard and hit first.’
