used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
alleviateverbUS /əˈliːvieɪt/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
deem to be
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/
detect with the senses
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
felicitynounUS /fɪˈlɪsəti/
pleasing and appropriate manner or style (especially manner or style of expression)
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
and nothing more
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
philosophersnounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfərz/
plural of “philosopher” — a specialist in philosophy
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
privationnounUS /praɪˈveɪʃən/
a state of extreme poverty
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
quadrupednoun
an animal especially a mammal having four limbs specialized for walking
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
sneeredverbUS /snɪrd/
past form of “sneer” — express through a scornful smile
From this reading "You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading "You mean, do you, to fly in the face of all the moral and social philosophers?"
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
tendsverbUS /tendz/
third-person singular of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
three-leggedadjective
having or as if having three legs
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
toadstoolnoun
common name for an inedible or poisonous agaric (contrasting with the edible mushroom)
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
tripedal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
twenty-firstadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɜːrst/
coming next after the twentieth in position
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
unipedal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Ah!" sighed a three-legged stool, "if I had only been a quadruped, I should have been happy as the day is long--which, on the twenty-first of June, would be considerable felicity for a stool."
wretchednessnoun
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading "I don't discern," replied the first, "how the contemplation of unipedal misery tends to alleviate tripedal wretchedness."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You don't, eh!" sneered the toadstool.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Ha! look at me!" said a toadstool; "consider my superior privation, and be content with your comparatively happy lot."
