used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
the state of being absent
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
in the past
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Who are they?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
without stop or interruption
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
desirableadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
worth having or seeking or achieving
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
dynastynounUS /ˈdaɪnəsti/
a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
being one more than seven
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
a feeling of excitement
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
divisible by two
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
extractingverbUS /ekˈstræktɪŋ/
-ing form of “extract” — remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
a young female
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
for this reason
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
historicaladjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪkəl/
of or relating to the study of history
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
interpolationnounUS /ˌɪˈtɜːrpəleɪʃən/
a message (spoken or written) that is introduced or inserted
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
take in marriage
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
marryingverbUS /ˈmeriɪŋ/
-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
Merriwether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
peasnounUS /piːz/
plural of “pea” — seed of a pea plant used for food
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
perpetuatingverbUS /pərˈpetʃəweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “perpetuate” — cause to continue or prevail
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
not used up
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
a male human offspring
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Who are they?”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
threatsnounUS /θrets/
plural of “threat” — something that is a source of danger
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
precisely as stated
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
vulgarlyadverb
in a smutty manner
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hence the preparation of eight very nice girls--three of them in your own set, three others children of people you know, and the remaining two equally desirable but less historical, as it were.”
which person or people
From this reading “Who are they?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Very clever!” said Mr. Merriwether, with a thoughtful absence of enthusiasm.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
a late time of life
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading We thought that, instead of vulgarly extracting the million from you by torture or threats, we would place you in our debt by perpetuating the Merriwether dynasty.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Therefore,” continued the man as if he had not heard the other's interpolation, “your son, being full of the thought of love and, even worse, of marrying the mate that Fate selected for him five million years ago, is now ready to marry any girl that smells of sweet peas.
