used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
being joined in close association
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
EllisonnounUS /ˈelɪsən/
United States novelist who wrote about a young Black man and his struggles in American society (1914-1994)
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
and nothing more
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
parentnounUS /ˈperənt/
a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
a light shade of red
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
a male human offspring
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
UNHAPPINESSnounUS /ənˈhæpinɪs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The birth of his son opened up to Ellison a new world.
vegetated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
which person or people
From this reading He began to understand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the first month of that baby life everything connected with his own past was forgotten in one intense joy of possession.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading HAPPINESS--UNHAPPINESS--AND A MAN OF THE WORLD.
wovenadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊvən/
made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole
From this reading The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink tenderness of a baby fingers.
