used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
aristocracynounUS /ˌerəˈstɑːkrəsi/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
ConstitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
contradictoryadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪktəri/
of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true and both cannot be false
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
creatingverbUS /kriˈeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading In England we have an aristocracy instead of a religion.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
fairiesnounUS /ˈferiz/
plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading In the same way in England we have an aristocracy instead of a Government.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In England we have an aristocracy instead of a religion.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading In England we have an aristocracy instead of a religion.
interpretverbUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrprət/
make sense of; assign a meaning to
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
IrishnounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃ/
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
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 Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
nobilitynounUS /noʊˈbɪləti/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In England we have an aristocracy instead of a religion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
literature in metrical form
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading In England we have an aristocracy instead of a religion.
relyverbUS /rɪˈlaɪ/
have faith or confidence in
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
saintsnounUS /seɪnts/
plural of “saint” — a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
Identical; not different.
From this reading In the same way in England we have an aristocracy instead of a Government.
ScotchnounUS /skɑːtʃ/
a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
substitutingnounUS /ˈsʌbstɪtuːtɪŋ/
working as a substitute for someone who is ill or on leave of absence
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
a special situation
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
in the direction of
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
the topmost one of two
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We rely on a certain good humour and education in the upper class to interpret to us our contradictory Constitution.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In the same way in England we have an aristocracy instead of a Government.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In England we have an aristocracy instead of a religion.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Our tendency for many centuries past has been, not so much towards creating an aristocracy (which may or may not be a good thing in itself), as towards substituting an aristocracy for everything else.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The nobility are to the English poor what the saints and the fairies are to the Irish poor, what the large devil with a black face was to the Scotch poor—the poetry of life.
