used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
another's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
in a state of sleep
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
next to; at the side of
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
compoundedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpaʊndəd/
combined into or constituting a chemical compound
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
conceiveverbUS /kənˈsiːv/
have the idea for
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
power to direct or determine
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
command with authority
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
excludingverbUS /ɪkˈskluːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “exclude” — prevent from being included or considered or accepted
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
fanciesnounUS /ˈfænsiz/
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
groupedadjectiveUS /ɡruːpt/
arranged into groups
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Imagination is merely memory.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
inheritverbUS /ˌɪnˈherət/
obtain from someone after their death
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Imagination is merely memory.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Imagination is merely memory.
memory's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
and nothing more
From this reading Imagination is merely memory.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
not one, and not any
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
select carefully from a group
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
servesnounUS /sɜːrvz/
plural of “serve” — (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
to a small degree or extent
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
unitsnounUS /ˈjuːnəts/
plural of “unit” — any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
at the time that
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, when awake, having assistance of will and judgment, we can somewhat control and direct; we can pick and choose from memory’s store, taking that which serves, excluding, though sometimes with difficulty, what is not to the purpose; asleep, our fancies “inherit us.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Try to conceive an animal, for example, without body, head, limbs or tail—a house without walls or roof.
wroughtadjectiveUS /rɔːt/
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading They come so grouped, so blended and compounded the one with another, so wrought of one another’s elements, that the whole seems new; but the old familiar units of conception are there, and none beside.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Try to imagine something that you have never observed, experienced, heard of or read about.
