used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
(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 This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
astrobiological
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
astronomicaladjectiveUS /ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkəl/
relating or belonging to the science of astronomy
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
cause to be bored
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
characteristicsnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/
plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
cosmosnounUS /ˈkɑːz.moʊs/
The universe seen as a well-ordered whole governed by rational nature.
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
distinctiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/
of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
a social unit living together
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
interstellaradjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈstelər/
between or among stars
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
investigationsnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃənz/
plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
migrationnounUS /maɪˈɡreɪʃən/
the movement of persons from one country or locality to another
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
many times at short intervals
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
researchesnounUS /riˈsɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “research” — systematic investigation to establish facts
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
spiritualadjectiveUS /ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəl/
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
stellaradjectiveUS /ˈstelər/
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RELIGION AFTER a few days’ reflection and observation, I felt a change in the spirit of the people.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every family seemed to hurry in its efforts at development and the pace of their advance might almost be called feverish now.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was less of that serenity which had struck me so often as one of the distinctive characteristics of themselves and their actions.
which person or people
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
belonging to which person
From this reading Next to them in increase of eagerness and enthusiasm came the astronomical families, the astrobiological, and all whose researches bore upon stellar conditions and interstellar migration.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was especially the case with all who were engaged in the more spiritual investigations into the nature of the cosmos.
