used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
the two together, not just one
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
dazzleverbUS /ˈdæzəl/
to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
divisible by two
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
opinion or judgment
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
only a very short time before
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
influentialadjectiveUS /ˌɪnfluːˈenʃəl/
having or exercising influence or power
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
immediately past
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Three months later my mother died.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Three months later my mother died.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Three months later my mother died.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
nonchalancenounUS /ˈnɑːnʃəˈlɑːns/
the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
predictedverbUS /prɪˈdɪktɪd/
past form of “predict” — make a prediction about; tell in advance
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
seedsnounUS /siːdz/
plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
summer-term
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he died--he died at Oxford in his last summer-term, of a chill got on the river.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three months later my mother died.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We hardly realized that she was ill, for she kept her happy face and was brave and gay and lovely to the end.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
in the company of; together with
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
produce a literary work
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading "He was easily the most brilliant man of his year at Oxford; great things were predicted for him; he seemed to walk among us 'both hands full of gifts, carrying with nonchalance the seeds of a most influential life.'
a late time of life
From this reading Even now, after five years, I can't write about it; my eyes dazzle....
