used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
how long something has existed
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
amiableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmiəbəl/
disposed to please
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
brought into existence
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
Braham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
creditedadjectiveUS /ˈkredətəd/
(usually followed by “to”) given credit for
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
dependencenounUS /dɪˈpendəns/
the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
easy-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
one or the other of two
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
EmilianounUS /əˈmiːliə/
tropical African herbs
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
HALF-BROTHERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HALF-BROTHERS.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
occurring by chance
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
PagetnounUS /ˈpædʒət/
English pathologist who discovered the cause of trichinosis (1814-1899)
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
proverbnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
proverbsnounUS /ˈprɑːvərbz/
an Old Testament book consisting of proverbs from various Israeli sages (including Solomon)
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
possessing material wealth
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
richesnounUS /ˈrɪtʃəz/
an abundance of material possessions and resources
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
ripenverbUS /ˈraɪpən/
cause to ripen or develop fully
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HALF-BROTHERS.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was born to riches, and he was too amiable and easy-natured to ripen into wisdom.
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
at the time that
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "It is better to be born lucky than rich" is one of the few proverbs to which the lie cannot be given by a proverb in the opposite direction.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Gerald Paget had had the choice, and had he been blessed with wisdom, he would have chosen luck in the place of riches, but he could not be credited with either of these conditions.
a late time of life
From this reading When he first met Emilia Braham he was twenty-four years of age; she was eighteen, and in a position of dependence; Gerald was wealthy, and to a certain extent his own master.
