used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
(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 All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
befellverbUS /bɪˈfel/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
blursnounUS /blɜːrz/
plural of “blur” — a hazy or indistinct representation
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
capaciousadjectiveUS /kəˈpeɪʃəs/
large in capacity
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
credibilitynounUS /ˌkredəˈbɪlɪti/
the quality of being believable or trustworthy
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
extenuationnoun
a partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
far-reaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
frailtiesnounUS /ˈfreɪltiz/
plural of “frailty” — the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
illuminatesverbUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪts/
third-person singular of “illuminate” — make lighter or brighter
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
indeliblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdeləbli/
in an indelible manner
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
subject to death
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
on one occasion
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
particularsnounUS /pərˈtɪkjələrz/
plural of “particular” — a fact about some part (as opposed to general)
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
in the near future
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
express in words
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
shortcomingsnounUS /ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋz/
plural of “shortcoming” — a failing or deficiency
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
storedverbUS /stɔːrd/
past form of “store” — keep or lay aside for future use
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
temptverbUS /tempt/
dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Looking back, then, into the very remote past is like looking upon a country which a low sun at once illuminates and blurs.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
precisely as stated
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
wanderingsnounUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/
plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading Regarding the exact particulars of my earliest wanderings I do confess I am somewhat uncertain.
(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 This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All I can say is, things are as I set them down; and those facts which you cannot believe you must continue to doubt.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
belonging to which person
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
a late time of life
From this reading The first thirty years of my life, it will be guessed in extenuation, were full of the frailties and shortcomings of an ordinary mortal; while those years which followed have impressed themselves indelibly upon my mind by right of being curious past experience and credibility.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This may tempt you to reply that one whose memory is so far-reaching and capacious as mine will presently prove might well have stored up everything that befell him from his very beginning.
