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a
     1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group.
           There was a man here looking for you yesterday.
     2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word.
           I've seen it happen a hundred times.
     3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003)
           We've received an interesting letter from a Mrs. Miggins of London.
     4. art. The same; one.
           We are of a mind on matters of morals.
     5. art. Any, every; used before a noun which has become modified to limit its scope; also used with a negative to indicate not a single one.Lindberg, Christine A. (2007)
           A man who dies intestate leaves his children troubles and difficulties.
           He fell all that way, and hasn't a bump on his head?
     6. art. Used before plural nouns modified by few, good many, couple, great many, etc.
     7. art. Someone or something like; similar to; Used before a proper noun to create an example out of it.
           The center of the village was becoming a Times Square.
     8. prep. (archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto.
           Stand a tiptoe.
     9. prep. To do with separation; In, into.
           Torn a pieces.
     10. prep. To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by.
           I brush my teeth twice a day.
     11. prep. (obsolete) To do with method; In, with.
     12. prep. (obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In.
           A God’s name.
     13. prep. To do with status; In.
           King James Bible (II Chronicles 2:18)
             To set the people a worke.
     14. prep. (archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing.
           1964, Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’
             The times, they are a-changin'.
     15. prep. (archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in.
           1611, King James Bible, Hebrews 11-21
             Jacob, when he was a dying
     16. prep. (archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into.
     17. v. (archaic, or slang) Have.
           I'd a come, if you'd a asked.
     18. pron. (obsolete, outside, England, and Scotland dialects) He.
     19. interj. A meaningless syllable; ah.
     20. prep. (archaic, slang) Of.
           The name of John a Gaunt.
     21. adv. (chiefly Scotland) All.
     22. adj. (chiefly Scotland) All.
distinct
     1. adj. Capable of being perceived very clearly.
           Her voice was distinct despite the heavy traffic.
     2. adj. Different from one another (with the preferable adposition being "from").
           Horses are distinct from zebras.
     3. adj. Noticeably different from others; distinctive.
           Olga's voice is quite distinct because of her accent.
     4. adj. Separate in place; not conjunct or united; with from.
     5. adj. (obsolete) Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified.
     6. adj. (obsolete) Marked; variegated.
unit
     1. n. (mathematics) Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one.
     2. n. (sciences) A standard measure of a quantity.
           The centimetre is a unit of length.
     3. n. The number one.
     4. n. clipping of international unit
           This pill provides 500 units of Vitamin E.
     5. n. An organized group comprising people and/or equipment.
           He was a member of a special police unit.
     6. n. (military, informal) A member of a military organization.
           The fifth tank brigade moved in with 20 units. (i.e., 20 tanks)
     7. n. (US, military) Any military element whose structure is prescribed by competent authority, such as a table of organization and equipment; specifically, part of an organizationJoint Publication 1-02 U.S
     8. n. (US, military) An organization title of a subdivision of a group in a task force.
     9. n. (US, military) A standard or basic quantity into which an item of supply is divided, issued or detailed. In this meaning, also called unit of issue.
     10. n. (US, military) With regard to Reserve Components of the Armed Forces, denotes a Selected Reserve unit organized, equipped, and trained for mobilization to serve on active duty as a unit or to augment
     11. n. (algebra) The identity element, neutral element.
     12. n. (algebra) An element having an inverse, an invertible element; an associate of the unity.
     13. n. (category theory) In an adjunction, a natural transformation from the identity functor of the domain of the left adjoint functor to the composition of the right adjoint functor with the left adjoint f
     14. n. (geology) A volume of rock or ice of identifiable origin and age range that is defined by the distinctive and dominant, easily mapped and recognizable petrographic, lithologic or paleontologic feature
     15. n. (commerce) An item which may be sold singly.
           We shipped nearly twice as many units this month as last month.
     16. n. (UK) A unit of alcohol.
     17. n. (electricity) One kilowatt-hour (as recorded on an electricity meter).
     18. n. (Australia, New Zealand) a measure of housing equivalent to the living quarters of one household, an apartment where a group of apartments is contained in one or more multi-storied buildings or a grou
     19. n. (historical) A gold coin of the reign of James I, worth twenty shillings.
     20. n. A work unit.
     21. n. (slang) A physically large person.
     22. adj. For each unit.
           We have to keep our unit costs down if we want to make a profit.
     23. adj. (mathematics) Having a size or magnitude of one.
of
     1. prep. Expressing distance or motion.
     2. prep.          (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off".
     3. prep.          (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.).
     4. prep.          From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.).
                    There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage.
     5. prep.          (North America, Scotland, Ireland) Before (the hour); to.
                    What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three.
     6. prep. Expressing separation.
     7. prep.          (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.)
                    Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband.
     8. prep.          (Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.)
                    He seemed devoid of human feelings.
     9. prep.          (obsolete) (Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.)
     10. prep. Expressing origin.
     11. prep.          (Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.)
                    The word is believed to be of Japanese origin.
     12. prep.          (Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation); from, out of, as an expression of.
                    The invention was born of necessity.
     13. prep.          (following an intransitive verb) (Indicates the source or cause of the verb.)
                    It is said that she died of a broken heart.
     14. prep.          (following an adjective) (Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.)
                    I am tired of all this nonsense.
     15. prep. Expressing agency.
     16. prep.          (following a passive verb) (Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).)
                    I am not particularly enamoured of this idea.
     17. prep.          (Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase) (see also 'Possession' senses below).
                    The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties.
     18. prep.          (following an adjective) (Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.)
                    It was very brave of you to speak out like that.
     19. prep. Expressing composition, substance.
     20. prep.          (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) (Used to indicate the material or substance used.)
                    Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic.
     21. prep.          (directly following a noun) (Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.)
                    She wore a dress of silk.
     22. prep.          (Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.)
                    What a lot of nonsense!
     23. prep.          (Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.)
                   Welcome to the historic town of Harwich.
     24. prep.          (Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second); "which is also".
                    I'm not driving this wreck of a car.
     25. prep. Introducing subject matter.
     26. prep.          (Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-ma
                    I'm always thinking of you.
     27. prep.          (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) (Introduces its subject matter); about, concerning.
                    He told us the story of his journey to India.
     28. prep.          (following an adjective) (Introduces its subject matter.)
                    This behaviour is typical of teenagers.
     29. prep. Having partitive effect.
     30. prep.          (following a number or other quantitive word) (Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment); "from among".
                    Most of these apples are rotten.
     31. prep.          (following a noun) (Indicates a given part.)
     32. prep.          (now archaic, literary, with preceding partitive word assumed, or as a predicate after to be) Some, an amount of, one of.
                    On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort.
     33. prep.          (Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).)
                    He is a friend of mine.
     34. prep. Expressing possession.
     35. prep.          Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above.
                    He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century.
     36. prep.          Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it.
                    The owner of the nightclub was arrested.
     37. prep.          Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; (the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this inter
                    Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames.
     38. prep. Forming the "objective genitive".
     39. prep.          (Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.)
                    She had a profound distrust of the police.
     40. prep. Expressing qualities or characteristics.
     41. prep.          (now archaic, or literary) (Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier); in respect to, as regards.
                    My companion seemed affable and easy of manner.
     42. prep.          (Indicates a quality or characteristic); "characterized by".
                    Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain.
     43. prep.          (Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.)
                    We have been paying interest at a rate of 10%.
     44. prep.          (US, informal considered incorrect by some) (Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives mod
                    It's not that big of a deal.
     45. prep. Expressing a point in time.
     46. prep.          (chiefly regional) During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity.
                    Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river.
     47. prep.          (UK dialectal, chiefly in negative constructions) For (a given length of time).
                    I've not tekken her out of a goodly long while.
     48. prep.          (after a noun) (Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.)
                    After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off.
language
     1. n. A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication.
           The English language and the German language are related.
           Deaf and mute people communicate using languages like ASL.
     2. n. The ability to communicate using words.
           the gift of language
     3. n. The vocabulary and usage of a particular specialist field.
           legal language;   the language of chemistry
     4. n. The expression of thought (the communication of meaning) in a specified way.
           body language;   the language of the eyes
     5. n. A body of sounds, signs and/or signals by which animals communicate, and by which plants are sometimes also thought to communicate.
     6. n. (computing) A computer language; a machine language.
     7. n. Manner of expression.
     8. n. The particular words used in a speech or a passage of text.
           The language used in the law does not permit any other interpretation.
           The language he used to talk to me was obscene.
     9. n. Profanity.
     10. v. (rare, now nonstandard, or technical) To communicate by language; to express in language.
     11. n. A languet, a flat plate in or below the flue pipe of an organ.
which
     1. det. (interrogative) What, of those mentioned or implied.
           Which song made the charts?
     2. det. (relative) The one or ones that.
           Show me which one is bigger.
           They couldn't decide which song to play.
     3. det. (relative) The one or ones mentioned.
           He once owned a painting of the house, which painting would later be stolen.
           For several seconds he sat in silence, during which time the tea and sandwiches arrived.
           I'm thinking of getting a new car, in which case I'd get a red one.
     4. pron. (interrogative) What one or ones (of those mentioned or implied).
           Which is bigger?;  Which is which?
     5. pron. (relative) Who; whom; what (of those mentioned or implied).
           He walked by a door with a sign, which read: PRIVATE OFFICE.
           We've met some problems which are very difficult to handle.
           He had to leave, which was very difficult.
           No art can be properly understood apart from the culture of which it is a part.
     6. pron. (relative, archaic) Used of people (now generally who, whom or that).
     7. n. An occurrence of the word which.
Is
     1. n. plural of I
     2. v. third-person singular present indicative of be
           He is a doctor. He retired some time ago.
           Should he do the task, it is vital that you follow him.
     3. n. plural of i
           remember to dot your is
     be
          1. v. (intransitive, now literary) To exist; to have real existence.
          2. v. (with there, or dialectally it, as dummy subject) To exist.
                There is just one woman in town who can help us. (or, dialectally:) It is just one woman in town who can help us.
          3. v. (intransitive) To occupy a place.
                The cup is on the table.
          4. v. (intransitive) To occur, to take place.
                When will the meeting be?
          5. v. (intransitive, in perfect tenses, without predicate) Elliptical form of "be here", "go to and return from" or similar.
                The postman has been today, but my tickets have still not yet come.
                I have been to Spain many times.
                Moscow, huh? I've never been, but it sounds fascinating.
          6. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject and object are the same.
                Knowledge is bliss.
                Hi, I’m Jim.
          7. v. (transitive, copulative, mathematics) Used to indicate that the values on either side of an equation are the same.
                3 times 5 is fifteen.
          8. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject plays the role of the predicate nominal.
                François Mitterrand was president of France from 1981 to 1995.
          9. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to connect a noun to an adjective that describes it.
                The sky is blue.
          10. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase.
                The sky is a deep blue today.
          11. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the passive voice.
                The dog was drowned by the boy.
          12. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the continuous forms of various tenses.
                The woman is walking.
                I shall be writing to you soon.
                We liked to chat while we were eating.
          13. v. (archaic, auxiliary) Used to form the perfect aspect with certain intransitive verbs, most of which indicate motion. Often still used for "to go".
          14. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form future tenses, especially the future periphrastic.
                I am to leave tomorrow.
                I would drive you, were I to obtain a car.
          15. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to link a subject to a measurement.
                This building is three hundred years old.
                I am 75 kilograms.
                He’s about 6 feet tall.
          16. v. (transitive, copulative, with a cardinal numeral) Used to state the age of a subject in years.
                I’m 20. (= I am 20 years old.)
          17. v. (with a dummy subject) it Used to indicate the time of day.
                It is almost eight. (= It is almost eight o’clock.)
                It’s 8:30 read eight-thirty in Tokyo.
                What time is it there? It’s night.
          18. v. (With since) Used to indicate passage of time since the occurrence of an event.
                It has been three years since my grandmother died. (similar to My grandmother died three years ago, but emphasizes the intervening period)
                It had been six days since his departure, when I received a letter from him.
          19. v. (often, impersonal, with it as a dummy subject) Used to indicate weather, air quality, or the like.
                It is hot in Arizona, but it is not usually humid.
                Why is it so dark in here?
          20. v. (dynamic/lexical "be", especially in progressive tenses, conjugated non-suppletively in the present tense, see usage notes) To exist or behave in a certain way.
                "What do we do?" "We be ourselves.".
                Why is he being nice to me?
approved
     1. adj. Having received approval.
           Employees' approved expense claims will be reimbursed by the 4th of the following month.
     2. v. simple past tense and past participle of approve
     approve
          1. v. To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm.
                Although we may disagree with it, we must nevertheless approve the sentence handed down by the court-martial.
          2. v. To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.
                We approve the measure of the administration, for it is an excellent decision.
          3. v. (transitive, archaic) To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
          4. v. (intransitive) To consider or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
                Note: This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of), is often followed by of.
          5. v. (transitive, legal, English law) To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit — said especially of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.
by
     1. prep. Near or next to.
           The mailbox is by the bus stop.
     2. prep. At some time before (the given time), or before the end of a given time interval.
           Be back by ten o'clock!  We will send it by the first week of July.
     3. prep. Indicates the actor in a clause with its verb in the passive voice: Through the action or presence of.
           The matter was decided by the chairman.  The boat was swamped by the water.  He was protected by his body armour.
     4. prep. Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.
           There are many well-known plays by William Shakespeare
     5. prep. Indicates the cause of a condition or event: Through the action of, caused by, responsibility for; by dint of.
     6. prep. Indicates a means: Involving/using the means of.
           I avoided the guards by moving only when they weren't looking.
     7. prep. Indicates a source of light used as illumination.
           The electricity was cut off, so we had to read by candlelight.
     8. prep. Indicates an authority, rule, or permission followed.
           I sorted the items by category.  By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.
     9. prep. Indicates the amount of some progression: With a change of.
           Our stock is up by ten percent.
     10. prep. In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.
           We went through the book page by page.  We crawled forward by inches.
     11. prep. Indicates a referenced source: According to.
           He cheated by his own admission.
     12. prep. Indicates an oath: With the authority of.
           By Jove! I think she's got it!  By all that is holy, I'll put an end to this.
     13. prep. Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
           It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix.  The room was about 4 foot by 6 foot.  The bricks used to build the wall measured 10 by 20 by 30 cm.
     14. prep. (horse breeding) Designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of.
           She's a lovely little filly, by Big Lad, out of Damsel in Distress.
     15. adv. Along a path which runs by the speaker.
           I watched as it passed by.
     16. adv. In the vicinity, near.
           There was a shepherd close by.
           The shop is hard by the High Street.
     17. adv. To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
           I'll stop by on my way home from work.
           We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.
     18. adv. Aside, away.
           The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.
     19. adj. Out of the way, subsidiary.
     20. n. (card games) A pass
     21. interj. alternative spelling of bye
some
     1. pron. A certain number, at least one.
           Some enjoy spicy food, others prefer it milder.
     2. pron. An indefinite quantity.
           Can I have some of them?
     3. pron. An indefinite amount, a part.
           please give me some of the cake;  everyone is wrong some of the time
     4. det. A certain proportion of, at least one.
           Some people like camping.
     5. det. An unspecified quantity or number of.
           Would you like some grapes?
     6. det. An unspecified amount of (something un).
           Would you like some water?
           After some persuasion, he finally agreed.
     7. det. A certain, an unspecified or unknown.
           I've just met some guy who said he knew you.
           The sequence S converges to zero for some initial value v.
     8. det. A considerable quantity or number of; approximately.
           He had edited the paper for some years.
     9. det. (informal) A remarkable.
           He is some acrobat!
     10. adv. Of a measurement: approximately, roughly
           I guess he must have weighed some 90 kilos.
           Some 30,000 spectators witnessed the feat.
           Some 4,000 acres of land were flooded.
authority
     1. n. The power to enforce rules or give orders.
           I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them.
           She lost all her respect and authority after turning up drunk to the meeting.
           Respect my authority!
     2. n. (used in singular or plural form) Persons in command; specifically, government.
     3. n. A person accepted as a source of reliable information on a subject.
           the world's foremost authority on orangutans
     4. n. Government-owned agency which runs a revenue-generating activity.
           New York Port Authority
Dictionary entries from Wiktionary