Chapter VI · Chapter 6

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

(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 The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

give a benediction to

From this reading Heaven bless my father!

the two together, not just one

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

placed in a grave

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

the human act of creating

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

one or the other of two

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

at any time

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

plural of “fate” — an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

associated with women and not with men

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

a grammatical category in inflected languages governing the agreement between nouns and pronouns and adjectives; in some languages it is quite arbitrary but in Indo-European languages it is usually based on sex or animateness

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

plural of “gorgon” — (Greek mythology) any of three winged sister monsters and the mortal Medusa who had live snakes for hair; a glance at Medusa turned the beholder to stone

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

(Greek mythology) Greek goddess of fertility who later became associated with Persephone as goddess of the underworld and protector of witches

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

(Norse mythology) goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

incapable of being explained or accounted for

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

of an obscure nature

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

an occurrence of something

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

the creation of something in the mind

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

Egyptian goddess of fertility; daughter of Geb; sister and wife of Osiris

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

the combined stakes of the betters

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

held up in the air

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

plural of “meaning” — the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

relating to or characteristic of mysticism

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

not any; not one

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

plural of “noun” — a content word that can be used to refer to a person, place, thing, quality, or action

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

make less visible or unclear

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

(Greek mythology) daughter of Zeus and Demeter; made queen of the underworld by Pluto in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Proserpina

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

of or relating to poetry

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

of momentous or ominous significance

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

plural of “representation” — a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

represented accurately or precisely

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

of or pertaining to the ancient Teutons or their languages

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

a special situation

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Sibyls were females, and so were the Gorgons, the Harpies, the Furies, the Fates, and the Teutonic Valkyrs, Nornies, and Hela herself; in short, all representations of ideas obscure, inscrutable, and portentous, are nouns feminine."

a garment that covers the head and face

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "There is not a mystical creation, type, symbol, or poetical invention for meanings abtruse, recondite, and incomprehensible which is not represented by the female gender," said my father, having his hand quite buried in his waistcoat.

which person or people

From this reading And so was Persephone, who must be always either in heaven or hell; and Hecate, who was one thing by night and another by day.

belonging to which person

From this reading "For instance, the Sphinx and Isis, whose veil no man had ever lifted, were both ladies, Kitty!