used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
additionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/
a component that is added to something to improve it
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
anniversariesnounUS /ˌænəˈvɜːrsəriz/
plural of “anniversary” — the date on which an event occurred in some previous year (or the celebration of it)
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
brought into existence
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
confined by bonds
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
comernounUS /ˈkʌmər/
someone with a promising future
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
a female human offspring
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
at any time
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
a social unit living together
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
a man of refinement
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
GrimmnounUS /ɡrɪm/
the younger of the two Grimm brothers remembered best for their fairy stories (1786-1859)
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
and nothing more
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
approval to do something
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
reasonablyadverbUS /ˈriːzənəbli/
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
Scribner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
a male human offspring
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
summersnounUS /ˈsʌmərz/
plural of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
precisely as stated
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
wedding-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
at the time that
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
a late time of life
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
