used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
brought into existence
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
a youthful male person
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
elbowedverbUS /ˈelboʊd/
past form of “elbow” — push one's way with the elbows
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
a social unit living together
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
a young female
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
and nothing more
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
localitynounUS /loʊˈkæləti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
engage in
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
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 They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
joined in matrimony
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
MarvelverbUS /ˈmɑːrvəl/
be amazed at
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
Middlesex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
overcrowdedverbUS /ˈoʊvərkraʊdɪd/
past form of “overcrowd” — cause to crowd together too much
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
Stepney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/
a large gathering of people
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
trodverbUS /trɑːd/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
which person or people
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
a late time of life
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
