used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
achievementnounUS /əˈtʃiːvmənt/
the action of accomplishing something
From this reading He died, however, more than twenty years before this achievement.
in actual fact
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
in addition
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
any thing at all
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
astronomernounUS /əˈstrɑːnəmər/
a physicist who studies astronomy
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
astronomersnounUS /əˈstrɑːnəmərz/
plural of “astronomer” — a physicist who studies astronomy
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
belongsverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋz/
third-person singular of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
calculationsnounUS /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “calculation” — the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He died, however, more than twenty years before this achievement.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
the act of discovering something
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/
qualified for by right according to law
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
divisible by two
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
gratificationnounUS /ˌɡrætəfəˈkeɪʃən/
state of being gratified or satisfied
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
only a very short time before
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He died, however, more than twenty years before this achievement.
Herschel'snounUS /ˈhɜːrʃəlz/
possessive form of “herschel” — English astronomer (son of William Herschel) who extended the catalogue of stars to the southern hemisphere and did pioneering work in photography (1792-1871)
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He died, however, more than twenty years before this achievement.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
majesticadjectiveUS /məˈdʒestɪk/
majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
have ownership or possession of
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
move upward
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
telescopeverbUS /ˈteləskoʊp/
crush together or collapse
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading He died, however, more than twenty years before this achievement.
UranusnounUS /ˈjuːrənəs/
(Greek mythology) god of the heavens; son and husband of Gaea and father of the Titans in ancient mythology
From this reading See also the greatly increased interest that belongs to Herschel’s discovery of Uranus.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was not this truly a great discovery?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
at the time that
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We can hardly imagine anything that would have given more gratification to this old astronomer than to think that his Uranus should have given rise to a discovery even more splendid than his own.
a late time of life
From this reading He died, however, more than twenty years before this achievement.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Have we not shown you how entitled the calculations of astronomers are to our respect, when we find that they actually discovered the existence of a majestic planet before the telescope had revealed it?
