used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
exhale hard
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
defectsnounUS /ˈdiːfekts/
plural of “defect” — an imperfection in a bodily system
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
provoking horror
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
and nothing more
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
Parrifer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
a male human offspring
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Major Parrifer stood like a helpless man.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Parents don't often see the defects in their own children, especially if they are only sons.
a special situation
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
unfitadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪt/
below the required standards for a purpose
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Taking one thing with another, the blow was horrible.
the words that are spoken
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Far from having thought his son soft, unfit (as he nearly was) to be trusted about, the Major had been proud of him as his heir, and told the world he was perfection.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading She gave the heads of this account in as few words as it is written.
