used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At length he dipped his pen into the ink, and wrote this:
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading At length he dipped his pen into the ink, and wrote this:
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
gas-lamps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have seen that before," he thought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have seen that before," he thought.
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
inknounUS /ɪŋk/
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
From this reading At length he dipped his pen into the ink, and wrote this:
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At length he dipped his pen into the ink, and wrote this:
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading At length he dipped his pen into the ink, and wrote this:
limitationsnounUS /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “limitation” — a principle that limits the extent of something
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
provided with artificial light
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
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 The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
the force of workers available
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
not one thing; not anything
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I have seen that before," he thought.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At length he dipped his pen into the ink, and wrote this:
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I have seen that before," he thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took a book from the little shelf that stood close to his right hand, and referred to it.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "I am now quite sure that what I have written is true," he said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The window of his study looked out on to the street, which was lit by many gas-lamps.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading "We should judge men by their best, not by their worst; by their possibilities, not by their limitations."
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Next morning he read what he had written the night before, and smiled to himself.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading That evening the Professor of Ignorance sat long with paper spread before him, and with a pen in his hand, but he wrote nothing.
