used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
any thing at all
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Finally he turned his attention to butterflies.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You may be tired of my story, but you must hear about this.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
beetlesnounUS /ˈbiːtəlz/
plural of “beetle” — insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
ButterfliesnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally he turned his attention to butterflies.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading You may be tired of my story, but you must hear about this.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may be tired of my story, but you must hear about this.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You may be tired of my story, but you must hear about this.
not any; not one
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
on one occasion
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
an amount of time
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
spidersnounUS /ˈspaɪdərz/
plural of “spider” — predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
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 You may be tired of my story, but you must hear about this.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
express a supposition
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _About Butterflies._ Our readers must not suppose that our little hero had no interest in anything but insects.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading You may be tired of my story, but you must hear about this.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Finally he turned his attention to butterflies.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is true that his mind being once engaged upon this subject, his curiosity increased with his knowledge, and for a time he preferred the study of insects to that of anything else.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading At one period, as I have told you, he was greatly interested in beetles; then in spiders; and then in bees.
