used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
matters of personal concern
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
any person at all
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
BonapartenounUS /ˈboʊnəpɑːrt/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
desnounUS /des/
a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
DOMICILIARYadjective
of or relating to or provided in a domicile
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
the act of departing
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
Jardin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading Jean was thoroughly startled.
go away from a place
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
and nothing more
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
Plantes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Jean was thoroughly startled.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
stridingverbUS /ˈstraɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
strollnounUS /stroʊl/
a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading Jean was thoroughly startled.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading A DOMICILIARY VISIT "This country is going to the dogs!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The two friends were taking an evening stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, and discussing, of course, the affairs of the nation, which were the only matters that interested anyone in those stirring days.
which person or people
From this reading It was Bonaparte who spoke, striding up and down thoughtfully, his head bent, his hands clasped behind him.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, the country, and especially this city is going to the dogs, and I think I'll leave it!"
