used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
baby'snounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
possessive form of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
believesverbUS /bɪˈliːvz/
third-person singular of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
brought into existence
From this reading When boys and girls are born, their fortunes are told.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
differverbUS /ˈdɪfər/
be different
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
being one more than seven
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
EmpirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
fortune-teller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading When boys and girls are born, their fortunes are told.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
many times at short intervals
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
the local environment
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
people'snounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
SUPERSTITIONSnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃənz/
plural of “superstition” — an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
express in words
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When boys and girls are born, their fortunes are told.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When boys and girls are born, their fortunes are told.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
precisely as stated
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
at the time that
From this reading When boys and girls are born, their fortunes are told.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
which person or people
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This fortune-teller, who is very often blind, has a great deal to do with baby’s fate.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The baby’s father gets the child’s ‘eight characters’ written down on a piece of paper.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Two of the ‘characters’ tell the year, two the month, two the day and two the hour when the little one came into this world; these he takes to the man who ‘looks at people’s lives,’ who he believes can tell from them whether the child will be fortunate or unhappy in this world.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading SUPERSTITIONS The superstitions of China are countless, and of course differ in different parts of the Empire, but you will like to hear of some that touch the lives of the boys and girls.
