used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
brought into existence
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
brackishadjectiveUS /ˈbrækɪʃ/
distasteful and unpleasant; spoiled by mixture
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
candlelightnounUS /ˈkændəllaɪt/
the light provided by a burning candle
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
channelsnounUS /ˈtʃænəlz/
official routes of communication
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
Chiltern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
classicaladjectiveUS /ˈklæsɪkəl/
of or relating to the first significant period of a civilization, culture, area of study, etc.
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
CumberlandnounUS /ˈkʌmbərlənd/
English general; son of George II; fought unsuccessfully in the battle of Fontenoy (1721-1765)
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
decayingverbUS /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “decay” — lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
exhibitionnounUS /ˌeksəˈbɪʃən/
the act of exhibiting
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
Flaggon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
grammarnounUS /ˈɡræmər/
the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics)
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
imprintedverbUS /ˌɪmˈprɪntɪd/
past form of “imprint” — establish or impress firmly in the mind
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
many times at short intervals
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
a course of conduct
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
phasesnounUS /ˈfeɪzəz/
plural of “phase” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
provincialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɪnʃəl/
of or associated with a province
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
To recall to mind.
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
reviewedverbUS /riˈvjuːd/
past form of “review” — look at again; examine again
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
scholarshipnounUS /ˈskɑːlərʃɪp/
financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
an educational institution
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
try to get or reach
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
SKIRMISHnounUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/
a minor short-term fight
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
spelledverbUS /speld/
past form of “spell” — orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
stagesnounUS /ˈsteɪdʒəz/
plural of “stage” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
unsatisfyingadjectiveUS /ənˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ/
not up to expectations
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
vicaragenoun
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Born with a thirst for knowledge, he had had to force his way, step by step, to the fountain head; and the narrow circumstances of a Cumberland vicarage had strewn the path with difficulties.
at the time that
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
in or at the place that
From this reading And, when he reviewed the past, he could not but remember how brackish and unsatisfying the water had often been in the channels where he had been compelled to seek it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Old and musty books spelled out by candlelight in his father’s study, then a scholarship at a decaying provincial grammar school, and finally a classical exhibition at a small Oxford College--such had been the stages by which he had made his way up the stream.
be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
From this reading He himself had had a hard struggle to win to knowledge, and the phases of the struggle had left their mark deeply imprinted on his character.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE FIRST SKIRMISH Mr. Flaggon had come to Chiltern with a determination to do great things for education.
