used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
assnounUS /æs/
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
defensiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈfensɪv/
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
distinctiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/
of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
GoliathnounUS /ɡəˈlaɪəθ/
(Old Testament) a giant Philistine warrior who was slain by David with a slingshot
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
GUNPOWDERnounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/
a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
jaw-bone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
Man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
mankindnounUS /ˈmænˈkaɪnd/
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
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 WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
offensiveadjectiveUS /əˈfensɪv/
violating or tending to violate or offend against
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
PhilistinesnounUS /ˈfɪləstiːnz/
plural of “philistine” — a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
racesnounUS /ˈreɪsəz/
plural of “race” — any competition
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
ruderadjectiveUS /ˈruːdər/
comparative of “rude” — socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
SamsonnounUS /ˈsæmsən/
(Old Testament) a judge of Israel who performed herculean feats of strength against the Philistines until he was betrayed to them by his mistress Delilah
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
ScripturesnounUS /ˈskrɪptʃərz/
plural of “scripture” — the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
slewverbUS /sluː/
turn sharply; change direction abruptly
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
slingverbUS /slɪŋ/
hurl as if with a sling
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
not in physical motion
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The study of the development of arms makes one of the most significant chapters in the history of civilization.
express in words
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
universallyadverbUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəli/
everywhere
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Scriptures tell us that Samson, the mighty man of the Bible, killed a thousand Philistines at one time with the jaw-bone of an ass.
the act of using
From this reading The use of stone weapons seems to have been universally characteristic of the earlier races of mankind, as it still is distinctive of the ruder races.
warfarenounUS /ˈwɔːrfer/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
WEAPONSnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading WEAPONS AND GUNPOWDER Man's weapons of warfare, offensive and defensive, have been many and curious.
in the company of; together with
From this reading David slew Goliath with a stone from a sling.
