used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
any thing at all
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
at any time
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
forgivenessnounUS /fərˈɡɪvnəs/
compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
Jerry'snounUS /ˈdʒeriz/
possessive form of “jerry” — offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
the force of workers available
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
parolenounUS /pərˈoʊl/
a promise
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
on the contrary
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
reformatorynounUS /rɪˈfɔːrmətɔːri/
correctional institution for the detention and discipline and training of young or first offenders
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
Identical; not different.
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
supervisingnounUS /ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/
management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And I cannot think of anything I would rather have than Jerry’s forgiveness.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very hard to find satisfactory employment for these boys.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading About the same time, I had taken up the work of supervising the men "on parole" from the reformatory.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
wrongsnounUS /rɔːŋz/
plural of “wrong” — that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law
From this reading I cannot imagine another life in which we would not understand and forgive the wrongs done us in this.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Now that Jerry is dead—he died during the fourth year—I, more than ever before, wish I could believe in a life beyond death.
