used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/
achieved or reached
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
a state at a particular time
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
ConfrontingverbUS /kənˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
discoveriesnounUS /dɪˈskʌvəriz/
plural of “discovery” — the act of discovering something
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
FARTHERMOSTadjective
(comparatives of “far”) most remote in space or time or order
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
infinitynounUS /ˌɪnˈfɪnɪti/
time without end
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
having much knowledge or education
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
inscrutableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈskruːtəbəl/
of an obscure nature
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
discontinued temporarily
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
mankindnounUS /ˈmænˈkaɪnd/
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
on one occasion
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
and nothing more
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
outlooknounUS /ˈaʊtlʊk/
a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
OUTREACHES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
problemsnounUS /ˈprɑːbləmz/
plural of “problem” — a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
RAYnounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
sphinxnounUS /sfɪŋks/
an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
transferredverbUS /trænˈsfɜːrd/
inflected form of “transfer” — transfer somebody to a different position or location of work
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
not known
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading "Confronting mankind there stands a sphinx--the vast Unknown.
(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 However well a man may be informed concerning a special subject, his farthermost outlook concerning that subject is bounded by an impenetrable infinity."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading WHY AND HOW.--"THE STRUGGLING RAY OF LIGHT FROM THOSE FARTHERMOST OUTREACHES."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "And the 'discovered,' as I will show, has only transferred ignorance to other places," he replied.
but in spite of that
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Granted," I interrupted, "that mankind has not by any means attained a condition of perfection, yet you must admit that questions once regarded as inscrutable problems are now illuminated by the discoveries of science."
