used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
how long something has existed
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
in the past
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
(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 Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
associatedverbUS /əˈsoʊsieɪtɪd/
past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
creepsnounUS /kriːps/
a disease of cattle and sheep attributed to a dietary deficiency; characterized by anemia and softening of the bones and a slow stiff gait
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading But this is no new experience.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
a young female
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this is no new experience.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
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 Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But this is no new experience.
not any; not one
From this reading But this is no new experience.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
photographverbUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/
record on photographic film
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
Identical; not different.
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
only a very short time before
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
express in words
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this is no new experience.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
TrivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
unheededadjectiveUS /ənˈhiːdɪd/
disregarded
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As age creeps on, we all have the same tale to tell.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
white-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading I am a white-haired old woman now, and I was then a little girl scarce ten years of age; but those times, and the places and people associated with them, seem, in truth, to lie nearer my memory than the times and people of to-day.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
a late time of life
From this reading The events I am about to relate took place more than fifty years ago.
the day immediately before today
From this reading Trivial incidents which, if they had happened yesterday, would be forgotten, come back upon me sometimes with all the vivid detail of a photograph; and words unheeded many a year ago start out, like the handwriting on the wall, in sudden characters of fire.
