used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
(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 I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
a quantity of money
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
antagonismnounUS /ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/
a state of deep-seated ill-will
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
arouseverbUS /ərˈaʊz/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
dearly loved
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
bottledverbUS /ˈbɑːtəld/
past form of “bottle” — store (liquids or gases) in bottles
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
BurkenounUS /bɜːrk/
British statesman famous for his oratory; pleaded the cause of the American colonists in British Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797)
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
without doubt or question
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
DaltonnounUS /ˈdɔːltən/
English chemist and physicist who formulated atomic theory and the law of partial pressures; gave the first description of red-green color blindness (1766-1844)
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
a female human offspring
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
developingadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpɪŋ/
relating to societies in which capital needed to industrialize is in short supply
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
Editha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
gritnounUS /ɡrɪt/
a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
helpernounUS /ˈhelpər/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
a particular point in time
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
not any; not one
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
oppositionnounUS /ˌɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
p'snounUS /piːz/
possessive form of “p” — a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
q'snounUS /kjuːz/
possessive form of “q” — the 17th letter of the Roman alphabet
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
To recall to mind.
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
sagelyadverb
in a wise manner
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
sharpenverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpən/
make sharp or sharper
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
sharpensverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpənz/
third-person singular of “sharpen” — make sharp or sharper
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/
plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
strategynounUS /ˈstrætədʒi/
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
strengthenverbUS /ˈstreŋθən/
make strong or stronger
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
strengthensverbUS /ˈstreŋθənz/
third-person singular of “strengthen” — make strong or stronger
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
in or at that place or location
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had no idea there was so much grit bottled up in her little body.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
Whew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Whew!” he exclaimed, after a moment, “my beloved daughter is developing a surprising spirit.
which person or people
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I shall have to mind my p’s and q’s, or all my plans will amount to nothing; it will not do to arouse her antagonism like this.
winningadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/
having won
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
in the company of; together with
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have no desire to strengthen _her_ nerves, or sharpen _her_ skill—clearly, opposition won’t do for Editha Dalton; we must employ winning smiles, soft speeches and strategy.
wrestlesnounUS /ˈresəlz/
plural of “wrestle” — the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat
From this reading I must remember the wisdom of Burke, who sagely remarked: ‘He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper.’
