used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
highly skilled
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading THE ARTIST.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
creditablyadverbUS /ˈkredətəbli/
to a tolerably worthy extent
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
dilettantenoun
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
frenzynounUS /ˈfrenzi/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
by chance
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
possessing material wealth
From this reading If he had not been rich, he might perhaps have become a great artist.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
Sprague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
sustainedadjectiveUS /səˈsteɪnd/
maintained at length without interruption or weakening
From this reading But, lacking the spur of poverty, he seemed incapable of sustained effort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ARTIST.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sprague was a dilettante in art as he was in life.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Occasionally he was seized with a frenzy for labor; and, for weeks at a time, he would shut himself up in his studio, until he had creditably accomplished some bit of work.
