used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
(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 And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
BEINGauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading It often requires great courage to say NO.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It often requires great courage to say NO.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It often requires great courage to say NO.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
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 And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
monosyllablenoun
a word or utterance of one syllable
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
not any; not one
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
many times at short intervals
From this reading It often requires great courage to say NO.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
and nothing more
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
posteritynounUS /pɑːˈsterəti/
all of the offspring of a given progenitor
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
with little or no delay
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
requiresverbUS /riˈkwaɪərz/
third-person singular of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading It often requires great courage to say NO.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
except for; apart from
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
express in words
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If mother Eve had known how to say _no_, she might have saved herself and her posterity from ruin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO.
a source of difficulty
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
which person or people
From this reading And many of her children, who have lost their character and their all, might have been saved, if they had only had courage promptly to say NO.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading But by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little monosyllable, you may save yourself a deal of trouble.
