used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
(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 Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
a quantity of money
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
any thing at all
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
awkwardnessnounUS /ˈɔːkwərdnəs/
unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
a youthful male person
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
at any time
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
a social unit living together
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
in a gradual manner
From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
industriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəs/
characterized by hard work and perseverance
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
engage in
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
manhoodnounUS /ˈmænhʊd/
the state of being a man; manly qualities
From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
To recall to mind.
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
an educational institution
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
be seated
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
sproutverbUS /spraʊt/
produce buds, branches, or germinate
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
express a supposition
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
precisely as stated
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
which person or people
From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
