used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
the state of being absent
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
in the past
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
placed crosswise
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
a social unit living together
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
merrieradjectiveUS /ˈmeriər/
comparative of “merry” — full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
moroseadjectiveUS /mərˈoʊs/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
by chance
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
except for; apart from
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
Thoma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
uninterruptedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪntərˈʌptɪd/
having undisturbed continuity
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading To be sure Thoma had always been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole household merry.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He was now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every one in the house, save Thoma, trembled.
