used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Henry often talks to me about construction.
adverbsnounUS /ˈædvərbz/
plural of “adverb” — the word class that qualifies verbs or clauses
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
conjunctionsnounUS /kənˈdʒʌŋkʃənz/
plural of “conjunction” — the temporal property of two things happening at the same time
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading Henry often talks to me about construction.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
eradicateverbUS /ɪˈrædəkeɪt/
kill in large numbers
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
divisible by two
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
fastidiousadjectiveUS /fæˈstɪdiəs/
giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
destroyed or killed
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
incurableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkjʊrəbəl/
incapable of being cured
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
infinitives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
many times at short intervals
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
go across or through
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
rejoicingnounUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/
a feeling of great happiness
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
sentencesnounUS /ˈsentənsəz/
plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
soundernounUS /ˈsaʊndər/
a device for making soundings
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
talksnounUS /tɔːks/
a discussion intended to produce an agreement
From this reading Henry often talks to me about construction.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading I am now greatly improved, though one of the incurable things I shall never eradicate from my system is a weakness for beginning sentences with 'but.'
at the time that
From this reading There used to be a time, before he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
in the company of; together with
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But if you observe it, I hope you will kindly pass it over without remark.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice, for he is fastidious regarding style.
