used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
after-exertion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
(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 It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
amusementsnounUS /əˈmjuːzmənts/
plural of “amusement” — a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
colouringnounUS /ˈkʌlərrɪŋ/
a digestible substance used to give color to food
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading UNGRATIFIED CURIOSITY.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
enableverbUS /eˈneɪbəl/
render capable or able for some task
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
eranounUS /ˈerə/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
frivolousadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪvələs/
not serious in content or attitude or behavior
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
yet to be or coming
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
of great significance or value
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
improvementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/
a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
go away from a place
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
not any; not one
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
outsetnounUS /ˈaʊtset/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
an amount of time
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
UNGRATIFIEDadjective
worried and uneasy
From this reading UNGRATIFIED CURIOSITY.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
vacillatingadjectiveUS /ˈvæsəleɪtɪŋ/
uncertain in purpose or action
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This important era was mine; and I lost no opportunity of turning it to the best advantage.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading If this precious portion of existence be wasted in frivolous amusements, time gets the start of us, and no after-exertion will enable us to overtake him in his flight.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It is the time for action, for mental and moral improvement, and the manner in which it is applied or neglected, will decide his character, or leave him weak and vacillating all the days of his life.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There is a period in every young man's first outset in life, which gives a colouring to his future destiny.
