used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
attainments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
candidadjectiveUS /ˈkændəd/
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
ChristianitynounUS /ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti/
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
determinateadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrməneɪt/
precisely determined or limited or defined; especially fixed by rule or by a specific and constant cause
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
DEVILTRYnoun
wicked and cruel behavior
From this reading SHEER DEVILTRY.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
disbelieveverbUS /dɪsbəˈliːv/
reject as false; refuse to accept
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
yet to be or coming
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
only a very short time before
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
immortalitynounUS /ˌɪmɔːrˈtælɪti/
the quality or state of being immortal
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
and nothing more
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
immediately past
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
legislatornounUS /ˈledʒəsleɪtər/
someone who makes or enacts laws
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
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 He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
not any; not one
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
notionsnounUS /ˈnoʊʃənz/
plural of “notion” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
and nothing more
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
politiciannounUS /ˌpɑːləˈtɪʃən/
a leader engaged in civil administration
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
Preston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
rejectedadjectiveUS /rɪˈdʒektɪd/
rebuffed (by a lover) without warning
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
express in words
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
SHEERadjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading SHEER DEVILTRY.
sincereadjectiveUS /sɪnˈsɪr/
open and genuine; not deceitful
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
having a supporting base
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
SupremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading He had been a politician, lawyer, legislator, and was now a Justice of the Supreme Court of his native State.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
precisely as stated
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
(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 He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was moral, upright, candid, and sincere, but like too many of his class, as well as of mine, had grown up and lived without any fixed or determinate views of religion.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To say he had rejected Christianity, would be hardly just; but he had only vague notions of what is Christianity, and if he did not absolutely disbelieve a future state, he had no firm belief in the immortality of the soul.
a late time of life
From this reading A few days after this last conversation, I was visited by Judge Preston, whom I had slightly known in former years,—a man of very respectable gifts and attainments, and of high standing in the community.
