used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
bitingadjectiveUS /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/
capable of wounding
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
contemptibleadjectiveUS /kənˈtemptəbəl/
deserving of contempt or scorn
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
demanding attention
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
one or the other of two
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
esteemedadjectiveUS /ɪˈstiːmd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
perchanceadverbUS /pərˈtʃæns/
through chance
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
puppiesnounUS /ˈpʌpiz/
plural of “puppy” — a young dog
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
putridadjectiveUS /ˈpjuːtrɪd/
of or relating to or attended by putrefaction
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
reboundingverbUS /riˈbaʊndɪŋ/
-ing form of “rebound” — spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
rightlyadverbUS /ˈraɪtli/
with honesty
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
sceletum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
untoprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/
an old word for “to”
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
untowardadjectiveUS /əntuːˈɔːrd/
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
precisely as stated
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
weightyadjectiveUS /ˈweɪti/
having relatively great weight; heavy
From this reading The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what is that but an empty sound, and a rebounding echo?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Those things which in this life are dearest unto us, and of most account, they are in themselves but vain, putrid, contemptible.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
an old form of “will”, used with “thou”
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within a very little while, thou wilt be either ashes, or a sceletum; and a name perchance; and perchance, not so much as a name.
XXVIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-six and one
From this reading XXVII.
