used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
beginningsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋz/
plural of “beginning” — the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
brought into existence
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
without doubt or question
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
coherentlyadverbUS /koʊˈhiːrəntli/
in a coherent manner
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
intentionally conceived
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
placed crosswise
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading And even that is difficult enough.
disentangleverbUS /ˌdɪsənˈtæŋɡəl/
release from entanglement of difficulty
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
enmeshedadjectiveUS /enˈmeʃt/
caught as if in a mesh
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And even that is difficult enough.
divisible by two
From this reading And even that is difficult enough.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And even that is difficult enough.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
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 I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
a course of conduct
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
select carefully from a group
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
express in words
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
touchstonenounUS /ˈtʌtʃstoʊn/
a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
(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 Looking right back to the days of my childhood, the first beginnings of things are blurred and confused, but I must disentangle them as well as I may if I am to tell my story clearly and coherently.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
in or at the place that
From this reading I know now that the story began long before I was born, but I must pick up the thread of it where it first crossed my path.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But to me they didn't seem dark and incredible, for they were with me before I could reason and distinguish, nor had my experience any touchstone by which to test or measure them.
wovenadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊvən/
made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole
From this reading For before I was conscious to the point of memory I was already enmeshed in a net of mystery woven long since of dark and incredible things.
