used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
(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 Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
Etoniannoun
a student enrolled in (or graduated from) Eton College
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
expiredadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspaɪrd/
having come to an end or become void after passage of a period of time
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
globularadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɑːbjələr/
having the shape of a sphere or ball
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
half-year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
hereafteradverbUS /hɪˈræftər/
in a subsequent part of this document or statement or matter etc.
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
hingedverbUS /hɪndʒd/
past form of “hinge” — attach with a hinge
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
not in action or at work
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
used to form the superlative
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading My first half-year as an Etonian had now expired.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
an amount of time
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
portentousadjectiveUS /pɔːrˈtentəs/
of momentous or ominous significance
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
predestinationnounUS /ˌpriːdestəˈneɪʃən/
previous determination as if by destiny or fate
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
solvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
a special situation
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Brief as it was, it has been to me the most portentous period of my existence.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Are we the creatures of the merest chance, or of eternal predestination through all time, if there be such a thing as time at all?
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading I sometimes feel that my fate, here and hereafter, has hinged upon it--this world is globular for the same reason that a woman's tear is.
but in spite of that
From this reading The question is idle; for as we have never yet solved it, I begin to think we never shall.
