used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
how long something has existed
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
(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 Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
a female human offspring
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
true confidential information
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
in a free manner
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
usually; as a rule
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
MackenzienounUS /məˈkenzi/
Canadian explorer (born in England) who explored the Mackenzie River and who was first to cross North America by land north of Mexico (1764-1820)
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
engage in
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
not any; not one
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
pursuitsnounUS /pərˈsuːts/
plural of “pursuit” — the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
express in words
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
ScotlandnounUS /ˈskɑːtlənd/
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
do one's shopping
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
SomersetnounUS /ˈsʌmərset/
a county in southwestern England on the Bristol Channel
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
express in speech
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
a source of difficulty
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
at the time that
From this reading He became a clerk in Somerset House at the age of sixteen, and was a clerk in Somerset House when he died at the age of sixty.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
which person or people
From this reading Her father, who had in early life come from Scotland to London, had spent all his days in the service of his country.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Of him no more shall be said than that his wife had died before him, and that he, at dying, left behind him two sons and a daughter.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I fear I must trouble my reader with some few details as to the early life of Miss Mackenzie,--details which will be dull in the telling, but which shall be as short as I can make them.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Thomas Mackenzie, the eldest of those two sons, had engaged himself in commercial pursuits--as his wife was accustomed to say when she spoke of her husband's labours; or went into trade, and kept a shop, as was more generally asserted by those of the Mackenzie circle who were wont to speak their minds freely.
