used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
angeredadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡərd/
marked by extreme anger
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
CarvernounUS /ˈkɑːrvər/
United States botanist and agricultural chemist who developed many uses for peanuts and soy beans and sweet potatoes (1864-1943)
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
cultivateverbUS /ˈkʌltəveɪt/
foster the growth of
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
dormitorynounUS /ˈdɔːrmətɔːri/
a college or university building containing living quarters for students
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
equilibriumnounUS /ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriəm/
a stable situation in which forces cancel one another
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
fiftiesnounUS /ˈfɪftiz/
the decade from 1950 to 1959
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
groggyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɑːɡi/
stunned or confused and slow to react (as from blows or drunkenness or exhaustion)
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
illusionsnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒənz/
plural of “illusion” — an erroneous mental representation
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
incomenounUS /ˈɪnkʌm/
the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
initiations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
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 pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
Merrytown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
prignounUS /prɪɡ/
a person regarded as arrogant and annoying
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
Sanford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He pretended to cultivate his small farm in Merrytown, but as a matter of fact he lived off of a comfortable income left him by his very capable father.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
unmercifuladjectiveUS /ənˈmɜːrsɪfəl/
having or showing no mercy
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
precisely as stated
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
wabbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dormitory initiations had more than angered Hugh; they had completely upset his mental equilibrium: his every ideal of college swayed and wabbled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His father was responsible for his illusions, if one may call them illusions.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He wasn't a prig, but he had come to Sanford with very definite ideas about the place, and those ideas were already groggy from the unmerciful pounding they were receiving.
a late time of life
From this reading Mr. Carver was a shy, sensitive man well along in his fifties, with a wife twelve years his junior.
