used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
beardedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪrdəd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
a youthful male person
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading THE NEW CAREER.
consultverbUS /kənˈsʌlt/
get or ask advice from
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
a special loved one
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
defeatedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfiːtəd/
beaten or overcome; not victorious
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
command with authority
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE NEW CAREER.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
Renton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
a male human offspring
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
soothinglyadverbUS /ˈsuːðɪŋli/
in a soothing manner
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW CAREER.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was twenty-four hours before the brothers met to consult over their darkened prospects.
weepverbUS /wiːp/
shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ‘Never mind, my darling boy,’ she had said soothingly to her eldest son, though he was already a bearded man, with the stern Renton lines of resolution about his mouth.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Their mother could kiss and weep over them, but she was not the kind of woman to direct or guide her boys.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Such faint idea as she had in her mind was of a kind which would have entirely defeated their father’s purpose.
