Chapter 1 - page 14
destruction of self-centeredness
"It meant destruction of self-centeredness."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word destruction and self-centeredness both function as nouns. 2
"Destruction is a tearing down, or ruining. Self-centeredness means someone pays attention only to themselves. They focus on their own needs, wants, and problems, often ignoring the people around them.
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
presides
"I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word presides is used as a verb. 2
"Presides - to occupy a place of authority.
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
revolutionary, drastic proposals
"These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word presides is used as a verb. 2
"Presides - to occupy a place of authority.
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
profound
"God comes to most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word profound functions as an adjective. It is a predicate adjective that describes the noun "impact". 2
"Profound describes that reaches deeply.
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
sane
"For a moment I was alarmed, and called my friend, the doctor, to ask if I were still sane."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word sane functions as an adjective. 2
"Sane means mentally sound. In this text Bill has checked himself back into Towns Hospital in December of 1935. This was his forth stay, and his last detoxification. His friend Ebby visits earlier in the day, and later Bill has a dramatic spiritual experience. Doubting what has happened he asks his attending physician Dr. Silkworth if he has lost his mind. 4
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
demonstrating, principles, affairs
"My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word principles functions as a noun. 2
Webster's 1930 Dictionary define principals as the source or origin from where anything originates.
3
The principles have just been described over the last few pages. Bill with simplify them in chapter 5
when he lists the 12 steps. Some of the principals found in the steps are: honesty, willingness, and service to others.
The principles Bill is referring to, he has just described in telling his story over the last few pages. Ebby has described
the actions he has taken through the Oxford Group. Later in chapter 5 of the Big Book, Bill lists these principles through the 12
steps. Some of the principles found in the steps are: honesty, willingness, and service to others. In the second edition printing of the Big Book,
Bill adds further explanation in Appendix II, SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. “We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality
of the program. WILLINGNESS, HONESTY AND OPEN MINDEDNESS ARE THE ESSENTIALS OF RECOVERY. BUT THESE ARE INDISPENSABLE.”
1
In this sentence the word affairs functions as a noun. 2
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
imperative
"Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word imperative functions as an adjective. 2 Bill is saying it is absolutely necessary, essential, or urgent to work with others.
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
appallingly
"And how appallingly true for the alcoholic!"
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - page 14
In this sentence the word appallingly is used as an adverb. It modifies the adjective true, intensifying it to mean "shockingly," "horribly," or "to an appalling extent". 2
Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
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Footnotes for page 14
1Quotes from the Big Book on listed on this page are from the public domain version, in the United States, of the 2nd edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous. Accessible at 12step.org
2Sentence diagramming, to determine the word usage within the sentence, was performed by CoreNLP at corenlp.run.
3Definitions used are from the Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language 1930 Edition. Access to this dictionary online is at Hathitrust.org
4Historical event reference documented in the book "Bill W." by Robert Thomsen (1975) page 198-202.