used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The people had absolutely lost faith in revolutions.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
(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 All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The reason can be stated in one sentence.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
ChristianitynounUS /ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti/
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
compromisesnounUS /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪz/
plural of “compromise” — a middle way between two extremes
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
emanating from God
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
doctrinaladjectiveUS /ˈdɑːktrənəl/
relating to or involving or preoccupied with doctrine
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/
causing envy
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
existingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/
presently existing
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading The people had absolutely lost faith in revolutions.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The people had absolutely lost faith in revolutions.
for this reason
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
ten 10s
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The people had absolutely lost faith in revolutions.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The reason can be stated in one sentence.
opensnounUS /ˈoʊpənz/
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people had absolutely lost faith in revolutions.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
propheticadjectiveUS /prəˈfetɪk/
foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
on the contrary
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The reason can be stated in one sentence.
revolutionsnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃənz/
plural of “revolution” — a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading The people had absolutely lost faith in revolutions.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading The reason can be stated in one sentence.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
move stealthily
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
statedadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtɪd/
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading The reason can be stated in one sentence.
not in physical motion
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
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 Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All revolutions are doctrinal--such as the French one, or the one that introduced Christianity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reason can be stated in one sentence.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
except if; if not
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
at the time that
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
a late time of life
From this reading Very few words are needed to explain why London, a hundred years hence, will be very like it is now, or rather, since I must slip into a prophetic past, why London, when my story opens, was very like it was in those enviable days when I was still alive.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading For it stands to common sense that you cannot upset all existing things, customs, and compromises, unless you believe in something outside them, something positive and divine.
