used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
afflictingverbUS /əˈflɪktɪŋ/
-ing form of “afflict” — cause great unhappiness for; distress
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
a young person of either sex
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
condolencenounUS /kənˈdoʊləns/
an expression of sympathy with another's grief
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
distraughtadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔːt/
deeply agitated especially from emotion
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
divisible by two
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
honoredadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
HumenounUS /hjuːm/
Scottish philosopher skeptical philosophy restricted human knowledge to that which can be perceived by the senses (1711-1776)
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
and nothing more
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
mortalitynounUS /mɔːrˈtæləti/
the quality or state of being mortal
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
mournersnounUS /ˈmɔːrnərz/
plural of “mourner” — a person who is feeling grief (as grieving over someone who has died)
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
probabilitiesnounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiːz/
plural of “probability” — a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
rebelliousadjectiveUS /rɪˈbeljəs/
resisting control or authority
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
precisely as stated
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
which person or people
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading She was the wife of a man well-known among honored American names, and her death made more than the usual ripple of nearer pain and wider condolence.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading He was not merely rebellious and wildly distraught, in the way of mourners.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To the young husband it was an afflicting calamity, entirely surprising even to those who were themselves acquainted with grief.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
but in spite of that
From this reading The life of Francis Hume began in an old yet very real tragedy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading His mother, a lovely young woman, died at the birth of her child: an event of every-day significance, if you judge by tables of mortality and the probabilities of being.
