used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
in the past
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/
made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
a social unit living together
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading “Not very far,” he gravely returned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Not very far,” he gravely returned.
HEIRLOOMnounUS /ˈerluːm/
(law) any property that is considered by law or custom as inseparable from an inheritance is inherited with that inheritance
From this reading THE WINCHESTER HEIRLOOM.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
ladyshipnoun
a title used to address any peeress except a duchess
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Not very far,” he gravely returned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “Not very far,” he gravely returned.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
Identical; not different.
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WINCHESTER HEIRLOOM.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “The most that I know is that--a long time ago--some of my ancestors came to this country from England.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
precisely as stated
From this reading “Not very far,” he gravely returned.
WINCHESTERnounUS /ˈwɪntʃestər/
a city in southern England; administrative center of Hampshire
From this reading THE WINCHESTER HEIRLOOM.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gerald turned to his friend with some surprise at this question, and then his fine face clouded.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Gerald,” said her ladyship that same evening, upon coming up from their dinner, “how far back do you know your family history?”
