used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STRUCK BY A COMET.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
in the past
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading STRUCK BY A COMET.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
COMETnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading STRUCK BY A COMET.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
true confidential information
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
epochnounUS /ˈepək/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
at any time
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
meageradjectiveUS /ˈmiːɡər/
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
new-comer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
not any; not one
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
an amount of time
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
on the contrary
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
realmnounUS /relm/
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/
plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
unusual or striking
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
express in words
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
successive (without a break)
From this reading “The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed plainly that it was making straight for our planet.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading STRUCK BY A COMET.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
a special situation
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its collision with a comet.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Although the records are rather meager we know enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful event.
a late time of life
From this reading This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before or after the collision.
