used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
(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 Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
in addition
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
react verbally
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
celestialadjectiveUS /səˈlestʃəl/
of or relating to the sky
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
clawsnounUS /klɔːz/
plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
FablenounUS /ˈfeɪbəl/
a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
fatalitynounUS /fəˈtælɪti/
a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
ferocitynounUS /fərˈɑːsəti/
the property of being wild or turbulent
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
goddessnounUS /ˈɡɑːdəs/
a female deity
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
infernaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɜːrnəl/
characteristic of or resembling Hell
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
lionessnoun
a female lion
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
lovelinessnoun
the quality of being good looking and attractive
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
the force of workers available
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
pliancynoun
the property of being pliant and flexible
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
propounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
societiesnounUS /səˈsaɪətiz/
plural of “society” — an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
SPHINXnounUS /sfɪŋks/
an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret
From this reading THE SPHINX.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPHINX.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Such a Sphinx is this Life of ours, to all men and societies of men.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
which person or people
From this reading How true, for example, is that other old Fable of the Sphinx, who sat by the wayside, propounding her riddle to the passengers, which if they could not answer she destroyed them!
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading There is in her a celestial beauty,--which means celestial order, pliancy to wisdom; but there is also a darkness, a ferocity, fatality, which are infernal.
womanlyadjective
befitting or characteristic of a woman especially a mature woman
From this reading Nature, like the Sphinx, is of womanly celestial loveliness and tenderness; the face and bosom of a goddess, but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
