used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
AlbanynounUS /ˈɔːlbəni/
state capital of New York; located in eastern New York State on the west bank of the Hudson river
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "I certainly never had the hardihood.
continuingadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/
remaining in force or being carried on without letup
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
a social unit living together
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
foretoldverbUS /fɔːrˈtoʊld/
inflected form of “foretell” — foreshadow or presage
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I certainly never had the hardihood.
hardihoodnoun
the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
From this reading "I certainly never had the hardihood.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I certainly never had the hardihood.
instancesnounUS /ˈɪnstənsəz/
plural of “instance” — an occurrence of something
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
MurdochnounUS /ˈmɜːrdɑːk/
United States publisher (born in Australia in 1931)
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
musingnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪŋ/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "I certainly never had the hardihood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
persecutionnounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈkjuːʃən/
the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion)
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
scepticaladjective
marked by or given to doubt
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
seernounUS /siːr/
a person with unusual powers of foresight
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
in a serious manner
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
verificationnounUS /ˌverəfəˈkeɪʃən/
additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct
From this reading I have seen too many instances of their verification, to be sceptical on that head.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fate of the family of Albany was foretold by a seer many months before the execution of Duke Murdoch and his sons.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
which person or people
From this reading "Who can doubt these things?" replied the old duke, looking seriously, and continuing his musing position.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But what has this to do with my persecution, or with my being king of Scotland?
