used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
make right or correct
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
fluentlyadverbUS /ˈfluːəntli/
in a fluent manner
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
set up or found
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
be obedient to
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
Porson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
theoriesnounUS /ˈθɪriz/
plural of “theory” — a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus he was greater in the kingdom of heaven than thousands that knew more, had better theories about God, and could talk much more fluently concerning religion than he.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He did what was better: he tried constantly to obey the law of God, whether he found it in the Bible or in his own heart.
a source of difficulty
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT DID DRAW OUT HIS FIRST SMILE.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading His theories of religion were neither large nor lofty; he accepted those that were handed down to him, and did not trouble himself as to whether they were correct.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
a late time of life
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Mr. Porson was a man about five and forty; his wife was a few years younger.
