Chapter VII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Happy as a king."

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

any thing at all

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "Happy as a king."

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

(poetry) painful grief

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

apart from; not including

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading "Happy as a king."

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading "Happy as a king."

plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

not any; not one

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

no person; not anyone

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

on one occasion

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

and nothing more

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

plural of “parent” — 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 But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

express in words

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

past form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

express in words

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

two times

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

at the time that

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

which person or people

From this reading But he remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or, indeed, any part of his own history.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had, what they had been like, and why he had never seen them.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them--only once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty, and comforted them when they were sick, he, feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had become of his mother, and why she never came to see him.