used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
having companions or an escort
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
(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 Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
boroughnounUS /ˈbɜːroʊ/
one of the administrative divisions of a large city
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
Browborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
electedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektəd/
subject to popular election
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
electionnounUS /ɪˈlekʃən/
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
existingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/
presently existing
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
FinnnounUS /fɪn/
a native or inhabitant of Finland
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
a form of address for a man
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
petitionnounUS /pəˈtɪʃən/
a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
PHINEAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PHINEAS AND HIS OLD FRIENDS.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
scrutinynounUS /ˈskruːtəni/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
Tankerville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
precisely as stated
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr. Browborough.
