used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
(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 She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet Keith never thought of her as ignorant.
awenounUS /ɑː/
an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
book-learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/
made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
a state at a particular time
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
an act that fails
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
goadverbUS /ɡoʊd/
give heart or courage to
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Yet Keith never thought of her as ignorant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet Keith never thought of her as ignorant.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Yet Keith never thought of her as ignorant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
by chance
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
express in words
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Yet Keith never thought of her as ignorant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her own failure to tell suggested that it must have been of the slightest.
varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading She herself read eagerly, though fitfully, her interest in all such matters varying greatly with her mood and condition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
at the time that
From this reading She had a bright, eager mind that, when not clouded, acted as a goad on his own.
which person or people
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
wholesomeadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊlsəm/
conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was she who taught him to read and filled him with an awe for books and book-learning that was, perhaps, not entirely wholesome.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet Keith never thought of her as ignorant.
