used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A return to Czarism?
agentsnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənts/
plural of “agent” — an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
collapsenounUS /kəˈlæps/
an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
collapsedverbUS /kəˈlæpst/
past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
criticsnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪks/
plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
Czarism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A return to Czarism?
desiringverbUS /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...
engage in
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
make reference to
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
predictingverbUS /prɪˈdɪktɪŋ/
-ing form of “predict” — make a prediction about; tell in advance
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
PrefacenounUS /ˈprefəs/
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
From this reading You might get it, you know...._ Preface ...
RnounUS /ɑːr/
a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
replaceverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪs/
substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A return to Czarism?
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
SovietadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊviət/
of or relating to or characteristic of the former Soviet Union or its people
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
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 For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
UnounUS /juː/
a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
precisely as stated
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For twenty of these years the author of this story has vaguely wondered what would replace the collapsed Soviet system.
a late time of life
From this reading _For some forty years critics of the U.S.S.R. have been desiring, predicting, not to mention praying for, its collapse.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it.
