used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
(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 Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
in addition
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
BEGINSnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading THE PRINCESS BEGINS HER REIGN.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
brought into existence
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
bravestadjectiveUS /ˈbreɪvəst/
superlative of “brave” — possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
determiningadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənɪŋ/
having the power or quality of deciding
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
hold firmly
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PRINCESS BEGINS HER REIGN.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
a female domestic
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
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 Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
not any; not one
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
O'Malleys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
go across or through
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
an amount of time
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading THE PRINCESS BEGINS HER REIGN.
established beyond doubt
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
queenlyadjective
having the rank of or resembling or befitting a queen
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
REIGNverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading THE PRINCESS BEGINS HER REIGN.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
swansnounUS /swɑːnz/
plural of “swan” — stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
sweepsnounUS /swiːps/
plural of “sweep” — a wide scope
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
moving very fast
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRINCESS BEGINS HER REIGN.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
up to a particular time
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Already she had proved herself in attack by sea or assault on shore a born leader, brave as the bravest man amongst us all, but with a mind of larger grasp than any of ours.
precisely as stated
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
at the time that
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
which person or people
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
wingingverbUS /ˈwɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “wing” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The little maid who had saved me from the sea had grown into a woman, tall of stature and queenly in carriage--in a word, a commanding figure, one to be obeyed, yet also one who had the gifts which made obedience to her pleasant and easy.
a late time of life
From this reading Ten years, swift as the flight of wild swans winging their way southward when the first wind of winter sweeps behind them, passed over our heads in the Land of the O’Malleys; nor did they pass without bringing many changes with them.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet it so happened that no very startling or determining event occurred till at the very close of this period.
