used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SMILE AND THE LAUGH.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
comprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/
including all or everything
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
eldersnounUS /ˈeldərz/
plural of “elder” — a person who is older than you are
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
communicated in words
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
death of a person
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
hintedverbUS /ˈhɪntəd/
past form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
incumbentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkʌmbənt/
lying or leaning on something else
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
lapseverbUS /læps/
pass into a specified state or condition
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
the sound of laughing
From this reading THE SMILE AND THE LAUGH.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
the sound of laughing
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
used to form the superlative
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
on one occasion
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
ordinarilyadverbUS /ˌɔːrdəˈnerəli/
under normal conditions
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
persistentadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstənt/
never-ceasing
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading THE SMILE AND THE LAUGH.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SMILE AND THE LAUGH.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
interact in a certain way
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
unqualifiedadjectiveUS /ənˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd/
not limited or restricted
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading This view is apt to be expressed in too unqualified a form.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This means, as already hinted, that some inquiry be made into the act of laughing itself, the manner of it, and the circumstances which accompany it, and that this inquiry be carried out in the most comprehensive way possible.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To treat the facts with proper respect seems to be more than ordinarily incumbent on us in dealing with the nature and the significance of our laughter.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading We grave elders are wont to think of laughing and smiling as something quite occasional, a momentary lapse once in a while from the persistent attitude of seriousness.
