used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
(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 And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
Attorney-General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
biographiesnounUS /baɪˈɑːɡrəfiz/
plural of “biography” — an account of the series of events making up a person's life
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
disfiguredadjectiveUS /dɪˈsfɪɡjərd/
having the appearance spoiled
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
epitomenounUS /ɪˈpɪtəmi/
a standard or typical example
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
at any time
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
grandmothernounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
the force of workers available
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
offendedadjectiveUS /əˈfendəd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
and nothing more
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
like better; value more highly
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
be seated
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
carry out
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
create by training and teaching
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading My favourite biographies—such as that of Walter Scott, for example—are disfigured by them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It so happens that I have quite a considerable line of ancestors myself, but only one of them ever distinguished himself, and that (he was an Attorney-General) in a doubtful way; and I confess I don't take the slightest interest in them.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And if I don't care about ancestors on canvas (for their pictures, of course, are all we have seen of them), I have good cause to be offended with them on paper.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
at the time that
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
belonging to which person
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
in the company of; together with
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
produce a literary work
From this reading When men sit down to write a great man's life, why should they weary us with an epitome of that of his grandfather and grandmother?
the day immediately before today
From this reading I prefer the pleasant companion with whom I came up in the train yesterday, and whose name I forgot to ask, to the whole lot of them.
