used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
additionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/
a component that is added to something to improve it
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
(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 But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
in addition
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
to come or go into
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
set up or found
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
engage in
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
and nothing more
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
on one occasion
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The merit of his books lies beyond the horizon of this tale.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
hard to endure
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
wagesnounUS /ˈweɪdʒəz/
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading No doubt some of them were good, and some of them were bad, and some were merely popular.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
which person or people
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
world'snounUS /wɜːrldz/
possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Moreover, he found great delight in the doing of it, which was something that did not enter into the world's account--a kind of daily Christmas present in addition to his wages.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading There was once a man who was also a writer of books.
the act of creating written works
From this reading But he was all the time trying to make them better, for he was quite an honest man, and thankful that the world should give him a living for his writing.
