used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Without a law there is no sin.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
(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 The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
breadthnounUS /bredθ/
the capacity to understand a broad range of topics
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
constrainedadjectiveUS /kənˈstreɪnd/
lacking spontaneity; not natural
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
enactsverbUS /ˌɪˈnækts/
third-person singular of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
exactingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
yet to be or coming
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
insuresverbUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊrz/
third-person singular of “insure” — be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Without a law there is no sin.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Without a law there is no sin.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
modesnounUS /moʊdz/
plural of “mode” — how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
not any; not one
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
parentnounUS /ˈperənt/
a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
securingverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
estrangement from god
From this reading Without a law there is no sin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The absolute necessity of obedience in children he recognized in all its length and breadth.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Without a law there is no sin.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
except if; if not
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
precisely as stated
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
violationnounUS /vaɪəˈleɪʃən/
a crime less serious than a felony
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He saw no hope for them in the future unless obedience were constrained at every cost.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Careful, then, should every parent be how he enacts a law, the very existence of which insures its violation.
wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/
comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without a law there is no sin.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Happy both for them and himself would it have been if he had been wiser in his modes of securing obedience, and more cautious about exacting from his children things almost impossible for them to perform.
