Chapter VIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

how long something has existed

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

(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 So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

in addition

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

any thing at all

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Most of them lose the power as they grow old.

for the reason that

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

third-person singular of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

infestation of the pubic hair by crab lice

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

divisible by two

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Most of them lose the power as they grow old.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

plural of “last” — the temporal end; the concluding time

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

plural of “lizard” — relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading Most of them lose the power as they grow old.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

engage in

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of them lose the power as they grow old.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Most of them lose the power as they grow old.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

the local environment

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

having a point

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

formalwear consisting of full evening dress for men

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Most of them lose the power as they grow old.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

the act of using

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

precisely as stated

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But because they haven’t sense enough to make tools as we do, or even sense enough to use such tools as they find ready made—pointed sticks and sharp stones and shells and bits of bone and the like—as our very savage and very stupid ancestors used to do, the tools of the animals have to grow on them.

at the time that

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

plural of “worm” — any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading But in some animals, like crabs and earth worms and planarians, it lasts up to old age.

being seven more than forty

From this reading XLVII How The Animals Keep Their Tools Sharp One can not do much of anything without tools, so of course the animals have to have them.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading So you see, the strange power which a few creatures have of making new parts, or extra parts, like the tails of lizards or the heads of planarians, belongs also to all creatures when they are very young.