used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
academicadjectiveUS /ˌækəˈdemɪk/
associated with academia or an academy
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
how long something has existed
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
(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 However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
analyseverb
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
coincidencenounUS /koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
contributedverbUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/
past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
command with authority
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
disappointmentsnounUS /dɪsəˈpɔɪntmənts/
plural of “disappointment” — a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
forebodings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
gruesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɡruːsəm/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
idlernounUS /ˈaɪdələr/
person who does no work
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
influencedverbUS /ˈɪnfluːənst/
past form of “influence” — have and exert influence or effect
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
insignificancenounUS /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkəns/
the quality of having little or no significance
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
melancholicnounUS /ˌmelənˈkɑːlɪk/
someone subject to melancholia
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
no person; not anyone
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
not divisible by two
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
one-and-twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
satisfyverbUS /ˈsætəsfaɪ/
meet the requirements or expectations of
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
schoolboynounUS /ˈskuːlbɔɪ/
a boy attending school
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
sufficedverbUS /səˈfaɪst/
past form of “suffice” — be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
undistinguishedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
not special in any way; lacking distinction
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
uneventfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌniˈventfəl/
marked by no noteworthy or significant events
From this reading The little disappointments of schoolboy life, and the somewhat less childish ones of an uneventful and undistinguished academic career, should not have sufficed to turn me out at one-and-twenty years of age a melancholic, listless idler.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading Some weakness of my own character may have contributed to the result, but in a greater degree it was due to my having a reputation for bad luck.
WelshnounUS /weltʃ/
a native or resident of Wales
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading However, I will not try to analyse the causes of my state, for I should satisfy nobody, least of all myself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Most people would be struck by the utter insignificance of the small events which, after the death of my parents influenced my life and made me unhappy.
a late time of life
From this reading The gruesome forebodings of a Welsh nurse, which chanced to be realised by an odd coincidence of events, should not seem enough to change the nature of a child, and to direct the bent of his character in after years.
