used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
brought into existence
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
a youthful male person
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
Celeste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
clevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/
The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE COMING IN THE NIGHT.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
illustratingverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE COMING IN THE NIGHT.
Jud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
masteringnounUS /ˈmæstərɪŋ/
becoming proficient in the use of something; having mastery of
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE COMING IN THE NIGHT.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
and nothing more
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
Sherrod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
in the near future
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
carry out
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMING IN THE NIGHT.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In a short time the born artist in him was mastering the difficulties of color and he was painting in a manner that surprised not only his critical friends but himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Soon after their return to Chicago, Celeste began to observe changes in her husband's manner.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
nonexistent
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cleverness of Jud Sherrod, the boy, was not wanting in the man.
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 He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He gave up newspaper illustrating and went in for water colors and began to take lessons in oil painting.
