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1825
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
absolutely
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
acknowledged
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
ambition
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
any
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
apparently
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
argumentnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənt/
a reason or example used to support an idea
From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
ASconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
Bowdoin
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
cannot
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
College
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
definiteness
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
degree
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
detest
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
direction
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
doubt
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
eminence
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
enough
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
friend
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
George
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
graduated
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
hardly
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
hesitation
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
June
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
lawyer
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
LITERATURE
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
Longfellow
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
merely
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
minister
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
often
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
physic
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
preference
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
purpose
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
PURSUIT
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From this reading LITERATURE AS A PURSUIT Longfellow graduated at Bowdoin College in June, 1825.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
Somehow
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
student
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
study
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
takes
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
talent
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
unwilling
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
utterly
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From this reading I cannot make a lawyer of any eminence, because I have not a talent for argument; I am not good enough for a minister,--and as to physic, I utterly and absolutely detest it."
W
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
wanting
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From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
Wells
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was in his mind, apparently, from the first, that definiteness of purpose which is so often wanting when a student takes his first college degree.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
willingly
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From this reading There was for him no doubt or hesitation: it must be literature or nothing; and this not merely from a preference for the pursuit, but from an ambition, willingly acknowledged, to make a name in that direction.
writes
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From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He writes to his friend, George W. Wells, "Somehow, and yet I hardly know why, I am unwilling to study any profession.
