used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
anew
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
let fall to the ground
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
eatsnounUS /iːts/
informal terms for a meal
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
emergeverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
enmeshedadjectiveUS /enˈmeʃt/
caught as if in a mesh
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
far-seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
fatalitynounUS /fəˈtælɪti/
a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
humanlyadverbUS /ˈhjuːmənli/
in the manner of human beings
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
larvanounUS /ˈlɑːrvə/
the immature free-living form of most invertebrates and amphibians and fish which at hatching from the egg is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
LazarusnounUS /ˈlæzərəs/
the person who Jesus raised from the dead after four days in the tomb; this miracle caused the enemies of Jesus to begin the plan to put him to death
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
mercifuladjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsɪfəl/
showing or giving mercy
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
and nothing more
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
ploddingnounUS /ˈplɑːdɪŋ/
hard monotonous routine work
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
ready-winged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
refusingverbUS /rəˈfjuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
regathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
resentverbUS /rɪˈzent/
feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
resignationnounUS /ˌrezəɡˈneɪʃən/
acceptance of despair
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
respitenounUS /ˈrespɪt/
a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
routinenounUS /ruːˈtiːn/
an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
not in physical motion
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
toilsnounUS /tɔɪlz/
plural of “toil” — productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
tunnelverbUS /ˈtʌnəl/
move through by or as by digging
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
unrealitynounUS /ˌʌnriˈæləti/
the quality possessed by something that is unreal
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
vacationsnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “vacation” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Man has made of himself so plodding an animal as to almost resent the unreality of his brief vacations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
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 Perhaps Lazarus was humanly far-seeing in refusing the rich man a drop of water.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Now the toils, regathering about me again, woke a spirit of hopeless resignation in me that had been foreign to my earlier mood of resistance.
wood-boring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He eats his way, like a wood-boring larva, through a monotonous tunnel of routine, satisfied with the thought that some day he may emerge into the light on the other side, ready-winged for flight to the garden of paradise.
a late time of life
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading My escape from that strong net of fatality that had enmeshed so many years of my still young life, had been, it seemed, only a merciful respite.
