used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
beginningsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋz/
plural of “beginning” — the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
conjecturaladjective
based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
conjecturenounUS /kənˈdʒektʃər/
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
divisible by two
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
the organ of sight
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
not accessible to view
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
the sound of laughing
From this reading THE ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
losesverbUS /ˈluːzəz/
third-person singular of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
engage in
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
modestadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
and nothing more
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
ORIGINnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading THE ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
proceedingnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
reasonableadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənəbəl/
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading How, then, can we hope to get at them when they are hidden in the darkness of the remote past?
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading To attempt to get back to the beginnings of human laughter may well seem to be too ambitious a proceeding.
well-lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
at the time that
From this reading Beginnings are small things, and may easily escape detection, even when they lie well-lit not far from the eye.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is evident that our method here can only be the modest one of conjecture, a method which must do its best to make its conjecture look reasonable, while it never loses sight of the fact that it is dealing with the conjectural.
