used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
(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 When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
containsverbUS /kənˈteɪnz/
third-person singular of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
characterized by great determination
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
at any time
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
at a previous time
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
the force of workers available
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
subject to death
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading No doubt it contains secrets of great importance.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
Solomonproper nounUS /ˈsɒl.ə.mən/
A legendary king renowned for his wisdom and fabulous hidden mines.
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
required or under orders
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
in spite of the fact that
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
at the time that
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
belonging to which person
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’
wisestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzəst/
superlative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.
