Chapter 2 - page 24
supplanted, threadbare
"If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old threadbare idea that this time
we shall handle ourselves like other people."
1
Big Book - We Agnostics - page 17
In this sentence the word hazy and threadbare function as adjectives. The word supplanted functions as the past participle of the verb supplant. 2
A worn out piece of cloth shows the threads. Bill is referring to a worn out idea that we have used too many times.
Definitions are from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
Chapter 2 - this sentence spans pages 24 - 25
stark, legions
"These stark and ugly facts have been confirmed by legions of alcoholics throughout history."
1
Big Book - Bill's Story - spans pages 24 - 25
In the sentence the word stark functions as an adjective. Legions functions as a noun. 2
The word stark used as an adjective means complete or extreme. Synonyms for stark in this usage are absolute, complete, or utter."
<The word legion was from the Roman army, it referred to a unit comprised of 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. The phrase "legions of alcoholics" indicates a large, indefinite number.Definitions from Webster's 1930 edition. 3
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Footnotes for page 23
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