used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
destructiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/
causing destruction or much damage
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
deterrentnounUS /dɪˈtɜːrrənt/
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
devicenounUS /dɪˈvaɪs/
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
effectualadjective
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
glandularadjectiveUS /ˈɡlændʒələr/
relating to or affecting or functioning as a gland
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
hairsnounUS /herz/
plural of “hair” — a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
incursionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈkɜːrʒənz/
plural of “incursion” — the act of entering some territory or domain (often in large numbers)
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
juicenounUS /dʒuːs/
the liquid part that can be extracted from plant or animal tissue by squeezing or cooking
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
immediately past
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
liableadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪəbəl/
at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
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 Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
nettleverbUS /ˈnetəl/
sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
nettle-eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
many times at short intervals
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
plantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
productsnounUS /ˈprɑːdəkts/
plural of “product” — commodities offered for sale
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
pungentadjectiveUS /ˈpʌndʒənt/
strong and sharp
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
express a supposition
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
up to a particular time
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
precisely as stated
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading These hairs are often enough more or less glandular in structure, and therefore liable to contain various waste products of the plant.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The way in which so curious a device has grown up is not, it seems to me, very difficult to guess.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The more stinging it grew, the more effectual would the protection be; and as in each generation the least protected plants would get eaten down, while the more protected were spared, the tendency would be for the juice to grow more and more stinging till at last it reached the present high point of development.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Many plants are armed with small sharp hairs which act as a protection to them against the incursions of ants and other destructive insects.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Suppose one of these waste products in the ancestors of the nettle to be at first slightly pungent, by accident, as it were, then it would exercise a slightly deterrent effect upon nettle-eating animals.
