used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
(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 There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
(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 not to be different from one’s fellows.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
defeatnounUS /dɪˈfiːt/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
move gently or carefully
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
falteringnounUS /ˈfɔːltərɪŋ/
the act of pausing uncertainly
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
fatalitynounUS /fəˈtælɪti/
a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
gapeverbUS /ɡeɪp/
look with amazement; look stupidly
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is better not to be different from one’s fellows.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
participate in games or sport
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
be seated
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is a fatality about all physical and intellectual distinction, the sort of fatality that seems to dog through history the faltering steps of kings.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world.
