used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
(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 Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
a young person of either sex
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
CrimeanounUS /kraɪˈmiːə/
a Ukrainian peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
eternitynounUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəti/
time without end
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
divisible by two
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/
comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
hardshipnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/
a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
not in action or at work
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
ludicrouslyadverbUS /ˈluːdəkrəsli/
so as to arouse or deserve laughter
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
a particular point in time
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
easily agitated
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
and nothing more
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
religionists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
relieve from
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
SebastopolnounUS /seˈbɑːstəpɔːl/
a city in southern Ukraine on the Black Sea
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
express in words
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
TrivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
weighverbUS /weɪ/
have a certain weight
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I seemed to have lived down, and nearly obliterated from thought, that one day, one hour, one moment,--which was but a moment.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will set down, if only to get rid of them, a few incidents of this day.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Can it, or ought it, to weigh against a whole existence? or, as some religionists would tell us, against an eternity?
a late time of life
From this reading Strange! there, in the Crimea, in the midst of danger, hardship, and misery of all kinds I was at peace, even happy: happier than for many years.
but in spite of that
From this reading Trivial they are--ludicrously so--to any one but me: yet they have left me sitting with my head in my hands, stupid and idle, starting, each hour, at the boom of the bell we took at Sebastopol--starting and shivering like a nervous child.
