used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
in the past
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
cheerfulnessnounUS /ˈtʃɪrfəlnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
your parents
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
FortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
only a very short time before
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
SetonnounUS /ˈsiːtən/
United States religious leader who was the first person born in the United States to be canonized (1774-1821)
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
StevensonnounUS /ˈstiːvənsən/
Scottish author (1850-1894)
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
StewartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States film actor who portrayed incorruptible but modest heros (1908-1997)
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He stopped and reached for his sticks.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
in or at the place that
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Elizabeth went with him to the door, and Stewart Stevenson remarked to his host on the wonderful vitality and cheerfulness of the old man.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
a late time of life
From this reading Forty years ago he met with a terrible accident in the works where he was employed.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," said Mr. Seton, "you would hardly think that he rarely knows what it is to be free of pain.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Well! it's fine to be young, but it's not so bad to be old as you young folks think."
