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absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
aim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
asking
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From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
aspirations
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From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
BALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
beautiful
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From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
dreamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
employ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
enough
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From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
haste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
ideal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
ignorantnounUS /ˈignorant/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
lacking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
Laurence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
overshot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
practice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
prudence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
rules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
science
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
sixteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
skill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
systems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
teach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
theory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
WAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE WAY TO THE BALL I think I have been lacking both in skill and prudence.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What means do I know how to employ, except the systems, the rules of conduct, dreamed of at sixteen, beautiful in theory, but absurd in practice?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Is it enough for me to love the good, to stretch towards an ideal of virtue vague aspirations, the aim of which is itself uncertain?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading How can I, who am ignorant of life, teach its science?
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I was in too great haste; I overshot the mark, without asking Laurence if she understood me.
