used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
abilitiesnounUS /əˈbɪlətiːz/
plural of “ability” — the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
matters of personal concern
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
how long something has existed
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
(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 After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
a period of 100 years
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
consciouslyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnʃəsli/
with awareness
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
defyverbUS /dɪˈfaɪ/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
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 If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
failuresnounUS /ˈfeɪljərz/
plural of “failure” — an act that fails
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
fictitiousadjectiveUS /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
an established custom
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
for more time
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
not any; not one
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
standardsnounUS /ˈstændərdz/
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
not in physical motion
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
successesnounUS /səkˈsesəz/
plural of “success” — an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
testsnounUS /tests/
plural of “test” — trying something to find out about it
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading If, at twenty, one feels that he has reached man's estate he, nevertheless, tests his strength and abilities, his early successes or failures, by the temporary and fictitious standards of youth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
showing curiosity
From this reading Half a century has hurried by since I first lay in my mother's wondering arms.
a late time of life
From this reading "My house, my affairs, my ache and my religion--" I was fifty years old to-day.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading To be sure, I am not old; but I can no longer deceive myself into believing that I am still young.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading After all, the illusion of youth is a mental habit consciously encouraged to defy and face down the reality of age.
