used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
(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 I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
civilisedadjective
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
EuropeansnounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːənz/
plural of “european” — a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
many times at short intervals
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
the head of a state government
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
HookernounUS /ˈhʊkər/
United States general in the Union Army who was defeated at Chancellorsville by Robert E. Lee (1814-1879)
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
idolaters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
social deportment
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
NagasakinounUS /ˌnɑːɡɑːˈsɑːki/
a city in southern Japan on Kyushu; a leading port and shipbuilding center; on August 9, 1945 Nagasaki became the second populated area to receive an atomic bomb
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
notionsnounUS /ˈnoʊʃənz/
plural of “notion” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The heat was great; but Mr Hooker begged that we might belong to the party.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
in the near future
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
unchangedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʃeɪndʒd/
not made or become different
From this reading They have had for centuries their manners and customs unchanged, and their ideas are peculiar, according to our notions.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading The Japanese, although idolaters, and very unlike Europeans, are evidently a very civilised people.
precisely as stated
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was, of course, very eager to learn all I could about the country; but there seemed so much to learn, and so little time to learn it in, that I was frequently almost in despair.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Soon after we arrived, our new friend had to pay a visit to the Governor of Nagasaki.
