used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
for the reason that
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
blindlyadverbUS /ˈblaɪndli/
without seeing or looking
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
caressnounUS /kərˈes/
a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
conventionnounUS /kənˈvenʃən/
a large formal assembly
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
crassly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
doltishadjective
heavy and dull and stupid
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
forsoothadverb
an archaic word originally meaning “in truth” but now usually used to express disbelief
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
GOATnounUS /ɡoʊt/
any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “May I introduce you.”
idioticadjectiveUS /ˌɪdiˈɑːtɪk/
insanely irresponsible
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
introduceverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading “May I introduce you.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “May I introduce you.”
mulishadjective
unreasonably rigid in the face of argument or entreaty or attack
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
resentmentnounUS /rɪˈzentmənt/
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
revelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
a special situation
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
thistledownnoun
pappus of a thistle consisting of silky featherlike hairs attached to the seed-like fruit of a thistle
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
unattainableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbəl/
impossible to achieve
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The longing was for the unattainable; the resentment that it should be unattainable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a crassly idiotic, what an altogether blindly stupid, doltish, and utterly mulish thing was convention!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
a Caucasian
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A BLACK AND WHITE GOAT JOHN gazed after them with longing in his eyes and resentment in his heart.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “May I introduce you.”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Here were three young, gay, and delightful creatures enjoying the summer day in company, together revelling in the glowing sun, the caress of the air soft as thistledown upon one’s face, the scent of the flowers and the warm earth, while he--John--was condemned to loneliness, because, forsooth, of the lack of four words.
