used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He went about his work mechanically, was listless and silent.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
a youthful male person
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
put or send forth
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
a young person of either sex
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
consequentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwənt/
occurring with or following as a consequence
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
at any time
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading MAKING OTHERS HAPPY.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading He went about his work mechanically, was listless and silent.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading MAKING OTHERS HAPPY.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading He went about his work mechanically, was listless and silent.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
OTHERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAKING OTHERS HAPPY.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
posturenounUS /ˈpɑːstʃər/
the arrangement of the body and its limbs
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
do one's shopping
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He went about his work mechanically, was listless and silent.
stoopingadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpɪŋ/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
express in words
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading His features assumed a cast of anxiety unnatural in a child, and painful to notice.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went about his work mechanically, was listless and silent.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading William had always been a delicate boy, although, while in the country, his health was good; but now the confined air of the shop, and the odour of the leather, and the stooping posture consequent on his trade, began to tell painfully upon him.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered what was the matter that he did not now ever feel bright and hopeful.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He went about his work mechanically, was listless and silent.
