used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Fire is one of man's absolute necessities.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
biggestadjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡəst/
superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Fire is one of man's absolute necessities.
FRICTIONnounUS /ˈfrɪkʃən/
a state of conflict between persons
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
of great significance or value
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
inventionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃənz/
plural of “invention” — the creation of something in the mind
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is the friction match.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Fire is one of man's absolute necessities.
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 A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
used to form the superlative
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
necessitiesnounUS /nəˈsesɪtiz/
plural of “necessity” — the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Fire is one of man's absolute necessities.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
a human being
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
only a very short time before
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE FRICTION MATCH The biggest things are not always the most important.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
world'snounUS /wɜːrldz/
possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A little article, used many times in the course of every day and familiar to every person, is one of the world's great inventions.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Without it civilization would have been impossible, and life could scarcely continue.
