used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
accurateadjectiveUS /ˈækjərət/
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
matters of personal concern
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
axisnounUS /ˈæksəs/
a straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditions
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
CLOCKSnounUS /klɑːks/
European weed naturalized in southwestern United States and Mexico having reddish decumbent stems with small fernlike leaves and small deep reddish-lavender flowers followed by slender fruits that stick straight up; often grown for forage
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
complexnounUS /ˈkɑːmpleks/
a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
determinesverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmənz/
third-person singular of “determine” — establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
distinguishesverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪz/
third-person singular of “distinguish” — mark as different
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
divisionsnounUS /dɪˈvɪʒənz/
plural of “division” — an army unit large enough to sustain combat
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
furnishesverbUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃɪz/
third-person singular of “furnish” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
measurementsnounUS /ˈmeʒərmənts/
plural of “measurement” — the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
measuresnounUS /ˈmeʒərz/
plural of “measure” — any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
measuringnounUS /ˈmeʒərɪŋ/
the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nature herself furnishes measurements for certain divisions of time.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
not any; not one
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But no object of nature distinguishes the hours of the day or the divisions of the hour.
revolutionnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/
a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
rotationnounUS /roʊˈteɪʃən/
the act of rotating as if on an axis
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
only a very short time before
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
seasonsnounUS /ˈsiːzənz/
plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading CLOCKS The matters of every-day life, much less the affairs of a complex civilization, could scarcely be carried on without some accurate and uniform system of measuring time.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The revolution of the earth around the sun marks the year; the revolution of the moon around the earth determines the month; the rotation of the earth on its axis causes and measures day and night.
a late time of life
From this reading The "two great lights" that God made, as the Bible tells us, were designed "for signs, and for seasons, and for days and for years."
