used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
brought into existence
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
the two together, not just one
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
clogverbUS /klɑːɡ/
become or cause to become obstructed
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
put on clothes
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
featsnounUS /fiːts/
plural of “feat” — a notable achievement
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
grippingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
the act of retaining something
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
not in action or at work
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
inconveniencenounUS /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjəns/
an inconvenient discomfort
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
knacknounUS /næk/
a special way of doing something
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
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 knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
OccidentalnounUS /ˌɑːksəˈdentəl/
a native inhabitant of the Occident
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
on one occasion
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
perfectingverbUS /pərˈfektɪŋ/
-ing form of “perfect” — make perfect or complete
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
practicesnounUS /ˈpræktəsəz/
plural of “practice” — a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/
skillful after much practice
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
sandalnounUS /ˈsændəl/
a shoe consisting of a sole fastened by straps to the foot
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
be seated
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still more difficult is the ability to sit for hours, crouched on knees and heels, in the Japanese fashion.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
thongnounUS /θɔːŋ/
leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
toenounUS /toʊ/
one of the digits of the foot
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
the act of testing something
From this reading The knack of holding on a Japanese clog or the lighter sandal by gripping the thong that passes between the great toe and its mate is not acquired at the first trial or at many to follow.
be dressed in
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At once I set about perfecting myself in certain practices which so far had afforded me little more than idle amusement.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I practised both feats with a patient endurance born of intense desire.
Yoritomo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yoritomo had suffered as great inconvenience while learning to wear Occidental dress and to sit on chairs.
