Chapter X · Chapter 10

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

(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 THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

plural of “blunder” — an embarrassing mistake

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

a youthful male person

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

made or joined or united into one

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

without stop or interruption

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

the act of offering an improvement to replace a mistake; setting right

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

a weight that balances another weight

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

divisible by two

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

by good fortune

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

promote the growth of

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

a boy or man

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

moving slowly and gently

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

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 received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

freedom from vanity or conceit

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

the quality of being new; the opposite of oldness

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

occurring from time to time

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

in other respects or ways

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

by chance

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

censure severely or angrily

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

a person regarded as arrogant and annoying

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

plural of “superior” — one of greater rank or station or quality

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

process in which skin pigmentation darkens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

From this reading Fortunately for his modesty, however, his daily life did not tend to foster any such delusion.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

past form of “toil” — work hard

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.

not yet payable

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

precisely as stated

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

marked by good intentions though often producing unfortunate results

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

which person or people

From this reading Even had these conditions been otherwise the memory of the lazy little snob who was a great disappointment to his father would have served to crush in the lad any undue sense of his own importance.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor

From this reading The newness of the work combined with a score of well-meant blunders placed Peter Strong on entirely equal footing with other workmen, and quite as liable to correction.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading THE CLIMB BECOMES DIFFICULT It would not have been strange if with all this adulation Peter had come to think himself a very clever boy--perhaps the cleverest one in the world.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading He received occasional commendation, it is true, from his superiors, but to counterbalance it he continued to have many a rebuke thrown at him during the year he and Nat toiled together tanning hides.