used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
blightedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪtɪd/
affected by blight; anything that mars or prevents growth or prosperity
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
blossomedverbUS /ˈblɑːsəmd/
past form of “blossom” — produce or yield flowers
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
chillingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪlɪŋ/
provoking fear terror
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading Maturity and decay shake hands.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
at any time
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
expectationsnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “expectation” — belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
a social unit living together
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
gulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Maturity and decay shake hands.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
joysnounUS /dʒɔɪz/
plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
MaturitynounUS /məˈtʃʊrəti/
the period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed
From this reading Maturity and decay shake hands.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
and nothing more
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
on one occasion
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
and nothing more
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
progressiveadjectiveUS /prəˈɡresɪv/
favoring or promoting progress
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
retrospectnounUS /ˈretrəspekt/
contemplation of things past
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
Scriven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
shadowedadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊd/
filled with shade
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading Maturity and decay shake hands.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
a male human offspring
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
tombnounUS /tuːm/
a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
a just detectable amount
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
undergoneverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
precisely as stated
From this reading But I must trace the history of each, though it shall be very briefly.
vicissitudesnounUS /vɪˈsɪsɪtuːdz/
plural of “vicissitude” — a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the family of Mr. Scriven many changes had taken place during that space of time: flowers had blossomed and been blighted; expectations had passed away which were once fair; sorrow had shadowed some happy faces; death had not spared them any more than others.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
which person or people
From this reading The only one of the four children of the merchant who had undergone few vicissitudes, who had known but little change, and that merely progressive, was the son.
belonging to which person
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
yawningadjectiveUS /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/
gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
a late time of life
From this reading Where is the family in which the retrospect of ten years will not present a sad and chilling record--with the open tomb, around whose verge we play, and the yawning gulf of fate, which stands ever ready to swallow up the bright hopes and joys of early life?
