Lexis Rex Home



English Sentence Analyser

Use this page to analyse and learn English text. You can copy text into the box below or get a random sentence from our database. Press the Analyse button to get translations of the text and words.




to
     1. part. A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive.
           I want to leave.
           He asked me what to do.
           I don’t know how to say it.
           I have places to go and people to see.
     2. part. As above, with the verb implied.
           "Did you visit the museum?" "I wanted to, but it was closed.".
           If he hasn't read it yet, he ought to.
     3. part. A particle used to create phrasal verbs.
           I have to do laundry today.
     4. prep. Indicating destination: In the direction of, and arriving at.
           We are walking to the shop.
     5. prep. Used to indicate purpose.
           He devoted himself to education.
           They drank to his health.
     6. prep. Used to indicate result of action.
           His face was beaten to a pulp.
     7. prep. Used after an adjective to indicate its application.
           similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking.
     8. prep. (obsolete,) As a.
           With God to friend (with God as a friend);   with The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe);   lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice);   t
     9. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate a ratio or comparison.
           one to one = 1:1
           ten to one = 10:1.
           I have ten dollars to your four.
     10. prep. (arithmetic) Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation.
           Three squared or three to the second power is nine.
           Three to the power of two is nine.
           Three to the second is nine.
     11. prep. Used to indicate the indirect object.
           I gave the book to him.
     12. prep. (time) Preceding.
           ten to ten = 9:50; We're going to leave at ten to (the hour).
     13. prep. Used to describe what something consists of or contains.
           Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it.
           There's a lot of sense to what he says.
     14. prep. (Canada, UK, Newfoundland, West Midlands) At.
           Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y.
     15. adv. Toward a closed, touching or engaging position.
           Please push the door to.
     16. adv. (nautical) Into the wind.
     17. adv. misspelling of too
the
     1. art. Definite grammatical article that implies necessarily that an entity it articulates is presupposed; something already mentioned, or completely specified later in that same sentence, or assumed already
           I’m reading the book. (Compare I’m reading a book.)
           The street in front of your house. (Compare A street in Paris.)
           The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird.
     2. art.          Used before a noun modified by a restrictive relative clause, indicating that the noun refers to a single referent defined by the relative clause.
                    The street that runs through my hometown.
     3. art. Used before an object considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time.
           No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe.
           God save the Queen!
     4. art. Used before a superlative or an ordinal number modifying a noun, to indicate that the noun refers to a single item.
           That was the best apple pie ever.
     5. art.          Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive.
                    That apple pie was the best.
     6. art. Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class.
     7. art. Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective.
           Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
     8. art. Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar.
           No one in the whole country had seen it before.
           I don't think I'll get to it until the morning.
     9. art. Used before a body part (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun.
           A stone hit him on the head. (= “A stone hit him on his head.”)
     10. art. When stressed, indicates that it describes an object which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention.
           That is the hospital to go to for heart surgery.
     11. adv. 1=With a comparative ormore and a verb phrase, establishes a parallel with one or more other such comparatives.
           The hotter the better.
           The more I think about it, the weaker it looks.
           The more money donated, the more books purchased, and the more happy children.
           It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it.
     12. adv. 1=With a comparative, and often withfor it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated withnone.
           It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it.
           It was a difficult time, and I’m none the wiser for it.
           I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that.
palate
     1. n. (anatomy) The roof of the mouth; the uraniscus.
     2. n. The sense of taste.
     3. n. (figuratively) relish; taste; liking (from the mistaken notion that the palate is the organ of taste)
     4. n. (figuratively) Mental relish; intellectual taste.
     5. n. (botany) A projection in the throat of such flowers as the snapdragon.
     6. v. (transitive, nonstandard) To relish; to find palatable.
           Synonyms: stomach
well
     1. adv. (manner) Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.
           He does his job well.
     2. adv. (manner) Completely, fully.
           a well done steak
           We’re well beat now.
     3. adv. (degree) To a significant degree.
           That author is well known.
     4. adv. (degree, British, slang) Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).
     5. adv. In a desirable manner; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favourably; advantageously.
     6. adj. In good health.
           I had been sick, but now I'm well.
     7. adj. (hypercorrect) Good, content.
           “How are you?” — “I'm well, thank you!”
     8. adj. (archaic) Prudent; good; well-advised.
     9. interj. Used to acknowledge a statement or situation.
           “The car is broken.” “Well, we could walk to the movies instead.”
           “I didn't like the music.” “Well, I thought it was good.”
           “I forgot to pack the tent! Well, I guess we're sleeping under the stars tonight.”
     10. interj. An exclamation of surprise, often doubled or tripled.
           Well, well, well, what do we have here?
     11. interj. An exclamation of indignance.
           Well! There was no need to say that in front of my mother!
     12. interj. Used in speech to express the overcoming of reluctance to say something.
           It was a bit... well... too loud.
     13. interj. Used in speech to fill gaps; filled pause.
           “So what have you been doing?” “Well, we went for a picnic, and then it started raining so we came home early.”
     14. interj. (Hiberno-English) Used as a greeting
           Well lads. How's things?
     15. n. A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.
     16. n. A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally; a spring.
     17. n. A small depression suitable for holding liquid or other objects.
           Make a well in the dough mixture and pour in the milk.
     18. n. (figurative) A source of supply.
     19. n. (nautical) A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.
     20. n. (nautical) The cockpit of a sailboat.
     21. n. (nautical) A compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel, made tight at the sides, but having holes perforated in the bottom to let in water to keep fish alive while they are transported
     22. n. (nautical) A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of the water.
     23. n. (military) A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.
     24. n. (architecture) An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.
     25. n. The open space between the bench and the counsel tables in a courtroom.
     26. n. (metalworking) The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.
     27. n. A well drink.
           They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.
     28. n. (video games) The playfield of Tetris and similar video games, into which the blocks fall.
     29. n. (biology) In a microtiter plate, each of the small equal circular or square sections which serve as test tubes.
     30. v. (intransitive) To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.
     31. v. (intransitive) To have something seep out of the surface.
           Her eyes welled with tears.
well
     1. adv. (manner) Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.
           He does his job well.
     2. adv. (manner) Completely, fully.
           a well done steak
           We’re well beat now.
     3. adv. (degree) To a significant degree.
           That author is well known.
     4. adv. (degree, British, slang) Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).
     5. adv. In a desirable manner; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favourably; advantageously.
     6. adj. In good health.
           I had been sick, but now I'm well.
     7. adj. (hypercorrect) Good, content.
           “How are you?” — “I'm well, thank you!”
     8. adj. (archaic) Prudent; good; well-advised.
     9. interj. Used to acknowledge a statement or situation.
           “The car is broken.” “Well, we could walk to the movies instead.”
           “I didn't like the music.” “Well, I thought it was good.”
           “I forgot to pack the tent! Well, I guess we're sleeping under the stars tonight.”
     10. interj. An exclamation of surprise, often doubled or tripled.
           Well, well, well, what do we have here?
     11. interj. An exclamation of indignance.
           Well! There was no need to say that in front of my mother!
     12. interj. Used in speech to express the overcoming of reluctance to say something.
           It was a bit... well... too loud.
     13. interj. Used in speech to fill gaps; filled pause.
           “So what have you been doing?” “Well, we went for a picnic, and then it started raining so we came home early.”
     14. interj. (Hiberno-English) Used as a greeting
           Well lads. How's things?
     15. n. A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.
     16. n. A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally; a spring.
     17. n. A small depression suitable for holding liquid or other objects.
           Make a well in the dough mixture and pour in the milk.
     18. n. (figurative) A source of supply.
     19. n. (nautical) A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.
     20. n. (nautical) The cockpit of a sailboat.
     21. n. (nautical) A compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel, made tight at the sides, but having holes perforated in the bottom to let in water to keep fish alive while they are transported
     22. n. (nautical) A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of the water.
     23. n. (military) A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.
     24. n. (architecture) An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.
     25. n. The open space between the bench and the counsel tables in a courtroom.
     26. n. (metalworking) The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.
     27. n. A well drink.
           They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.
     28. n. (video games) The playfield of Tetris and similar video games, into which the blocks fall.
     29. n. (biology) In a microtiter plate, each of the small equal circular or square sections which serve as test tubes.
     30. v. (intransitive) To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.
     31. v. (intransitive) To have something seep out of the surface.
           Her eyes welled with tears.
if
     1. conj. Supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that; used to introduce a condition or choice.
           If it rains, I shall get wet.
     2. conj. (computing) In the event that a statement is true (a programming statement that acts in a similar manner).
           If A, then B, else C.
     3. conj. Supposing that; used with past or past perfect subjunctive indicating that the condition is closed.
           I would prefer it if you took your shoes off.
           I would be unhappy if you had not talked with me yesterday.
           If I were you, I wouldn't go there alone.
     4. conj. Supposing that; given that; supposing it is the case that.
           If that's true, we had better get moving!
     5. conj. Although; used to introduce a concession.
           He was a great friend, if a little stingy at the bar.
     6. conj. (sometimes proscribed) Whether; used to introduce a noun clause, an indirect question, that functions as the direct object of certain verbs.
           I don't know if I want to go or not.
     7. conj. (usually hyperbolic) Even if; even in the circumstances that.
     8. conj. Introducing a relevance conditional.
           I have leftover cake if you want some.
     9. n. (informal) An uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc.
they
     1. pron. (the third-person plural) A group of people, animals, plants or objects previously mentioned.
           Fred and Jane? They just arrived.   Dogs may bark if they want to be fed.   Plants wilt if they are not watered.
           I have a car and a truck, but they are both broken.
     2. pron. (the third-person singular, sometimes proscribed) A single person, previously mentioned, especially if of unknown or non-binary gender, but not if previously named and identified as male or female.
     3. pron. (indefinite pronoun, vague meaning) People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker.
           They say it’s a good place to live.
           They didn’t have computers in the old days.
           They should do something about this.
           They have a lot of snow in winter.
     4. det. (now Southern England dialect, or nonstandard) The, those.
     5. det. (US dialects including AAVE) Their.
     6. pron. (US dialectal) There (especially as an expletive subject of be).
didn't
     1. v. did not (negative auxiliaryArnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, , Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513)
     did
          1. v. simple past tense of do
     do
          1. v. (auxiliary) A syntactic marker
          2. v.          (auxiliary) A syntactic marker in a question whose main verb is not another auxiliary verb or be.
                        Do you go there often?
          3. v.          (auxiliary) A syntactic marker in negations with the indicative and imperative moods.
                        I do not go there often.
                        Do not listen to him.
          4. v.          (auxiliary) A syntactic marker for emphasis with the indicative, imperative, and subjunctive moods.
                        But I do go sometimes.
                        Do tell us.
                        It is important that he do come see me.
          5. v.          (pro-verb) A syntactic marker that refers back to an earlier verb and allows the speaker to avoid repeating the verb; not generally used with auxiliari
                        I play tennis; she does too.
                   #     They don't think it be like it is, but it do.
          6. v. To perform; to execute.
                All you ever do is surf the Internet. What will you do this afternoon?
          7. v. (obsolete) To cause, make (someone) (do something).
          8. v. (intransitive, transitive) To suffice.
                it’s not the best broom, but it will have to do;  this will do me, thanks.
          9. v. (intransitive) To be reasonable or acceptable.
                It simply will not do to have dozens of children running around such a quiet event.
          10. v. To have (as an effect).
                The fresh air did him some good.
          11. v. (intransitive) To fare, perform (well or poorly).
                Our relationship isn't doing very well;  how do you do?
          12. v. (transitive, chiefly in questions) To have as one's job.
                What does Bob do? — He's a plumber.
          13. v. To perform the tasks or actions associated with (something)
                "Don't forget to do your report" means something quite different depending on whether you're a student or a programmer.
          14. v. To cook.
                I'll just do some eggs.
          15. v. To travel in, to tour, to make a circuit of.
                Let’s do New York also.
          16. v. To treat in a certain way.
          17. v. To work for or on, by way of caring for, looking after, preparing, cleaning, keeping in order, etc.
          18. v. (intransitive, obsolete) To act or behave in a certain manner; to conduct oneself.
          19. v. (see also do time) To spend (time) in jail.
                I did five years for armed robbery.
          20. v. To impersonate or depict.
                They really laughed when he did Clinton, with a perfect accent and a leer.
          21. v. (transitive, slang) To kill.
          22. v. (transitive, slang) To deal with for good and all; to finish up; to undo; to ruin; to do for.
          23. v. (informal) To punish for a misdemeanor.
                He got done for speeding.
                Teacher'll do you for that!
          24. v. (transitive, slang) To have sex with. (See also do it)
          25. v. To cheat or swindle.
                That guy just did me out of two hundred bucks!
          26. v. To convert into a certain form; especially, to translate.
                the novel has just been done into English;  I'm going to do this play into a movie
          27. v. (transitive, intransitive) To finish.
                Aren't you done yet?
          28. v. (dated) To work as a domestic servant (with for).
          29. v. (archaic, dialectal, transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the present progressive of verbs.
          30. v. (stock exchange) To cash or to advance money for, as a bill or note.
          31. v. (informal, transitive) To make or provide.
                Do they do haircuts there?
                Could you do me a burger with mayonnaise instead of ketchup?
          32. v. (informal, transitive) To injure (one's own body part).
          33. v. To take drugs.
                I do cocaine.
          34. v. (transitive, in the form be doing somewhere) To exist with a purpose or for a reason.
                What's that car doing in our swimming pool? -
          35. n. (colloquial) A party, celebration, social function.
                We’re having a bit of a do on Saturday to celebrate my birthday.
          36. n. (informal) A hairdo.
                Nice do!
          37. n. Something that can or should be done (usually in the phrase dos and don'ts).
          38. n. (obsolete) A deed; an act.
          39. n. (archaic) Ado; bustle; stir; to-do; A period of confusion or argument.
          40. n. (obsolete, UK, slang) A cheat; a swindler.
          41. n. (obsolete, UK, slang) An act of swindling; a fraud or deception.
          42. n. (music) A syllable used in solfège to represent the first and eighth tonic of a major scale.
          43. adv. (rare) (abbreviation of ditto)
     not
          1. adv. Negates the meaning of the modified verb.
                Did you take out the trash? No, I did not.
                Not knowing any better, I went ahead.
          2. adv. To no degree.
                That is not red; it's orange.
          3. conj. And not.
                I wanted a plate of shrimp, not a bucket of chicken.
                He painted the car blue and black, not solid purple.
          4. interj. (slang) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.
                I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney... not!
                Sure, you're perfect the way you are... not!
          5. n. Unary logical function NOT, true if input is false, or a gate implementing that negation function.
                You need a not there to conform with the negative logic of the memory chip.
          6. contraction. (obsolete) Contraction of ne wot, wot not; know not; knows not.
quite
     1. adv. To the greatest extent or degree; completely, entirely.:
     2. adv.          With verbs, especially past participles.
     3. adv.          With prepositional phrases and spatial adverbs.
     4. adv.          With predicative adjectives.
     5. adv.          With attributive adjectives, following an (especially indefinite) article; chiefly as expressing contrast, difference etc.
     6. adv.          Preceding nouns introduced by the indefinite article. Chiefly in negative constructions.
     7. adv.          With adverbs of manner.
     8. adv. In a fully justified sense; truly, perfectly, actually.:
     9. adv.          Coming before the indefinite article and an attributive adjective. (Now largely merged with moderative senses, below.)
     10. adv.          With plain adjectives, past participles, and adverbs.
     11. adv.          Coming before the definite article and an attributive superlative.
     12. adv.          Before a noun preceded by an indefinite article; now often with ironic implications that the noun in question is particularly noteworthy or remarkable.
     13. adv.          Before a noun preceded by the definite article.
     14. adv.          (now rare) With prepositional or adverbial phrases.
     15. adv. To a moderate extent or degree; somewhat, rather.
     16. interj. (chiefly UK) Indicates agreement; "exactly so".
     17. n. (bullfighting) A series of passes made with the cape to distract the bull.
dazzle
     1. v. To confuse the sight of by means of excessive brightness.
           Dazzled by the headlights of the lorry, the deer stopped in the middle of the street.
     2. v. (transitive, figuratively) To render incapable of thinking clearly; to overwhelm with showiness or brilliance.
           The delegates were dazzled by the originality of his arguments.
     3. v. (intransitive) To be overpowered by light; to be confused by excess of brightness.
     4. n. A light of dazzling brilliancy.
     5. n. (figurative) Showy brilliance that may stop a person from thinking clearly.
     6. n. (uncommon) A herd of zebra.
they
     1. pron. (the third-person plural) A group of people, animals, plants or objects previously mentioned.
           Fred and Jane? They just arrived.   Dogs may bark if they want to be fed.   Plants wilt if they are not watered.
           I have a car and a truck, but they are both broken.
     2. pron. (the third-person singular, sometimes proscribed) A single person, previously mentioned, especially if of unknown or non-binary gender, but not if previously named and identified as male or female.
     3. pron. (indefinite pronoun, vague meaning) People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker.
           They say it’s a good place to live.
           They didn’t have computers in the old days.
           They should do something about this.
           They have a lot of snow in winter.
     4. det. (now Southern England dialect, or nonstandard) The, those.
     5. det. (US dialects including AAVE) Their.
     6. pron. (US dialectal) There (especially as an expletive subject of be).
didn't
     1. v. did not (negative auxiliaryArnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, , Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513)
     did
          1. v. simple past tense of do
     do
          1. v. (auxiliary) A syntactic marker
          2. v.          (auxiliary) A syntactic marker in a question whose main verb is not another auxiliary verb or be.
                        Do you go there often?
          3. v.          (auxiliary) A syntactic marker in negations with the indicative and imperative moods.
                        I do not go there often.
                        Do not listen to him.
          4. v.          (auxiliary) A syntactic marker for emphasis with the indicative, imperative, and subjunctive moods.
                        But I do go sometimes.
                        Do tell us.
                        It is important that he do come see me.
          5. v.          (pro-verb) A syntactic marker that refers back to an earlier verb and allows the speaker to avoid repeating the verb; not generally used with auxiliari
                        I play tennis; she does too.
                   #     They don't think it be like it is, but it do.
          6. v. To perform; to execute.
                All you ever do is surf the Internet. What will you do this afternoon?
          7. v. (obsolete) To cause, make (someone) (do something).
          8. v. (intransitive, transitive) To suffice.
                it’s not the best broom, but it will have to do;  this will do me, thanks.
          9. v. (intransitive) To be reasonable or acceptable.
                It simply will not do to have dozens of children running around such a quiet event.
          10. v. To have (as an effect).
                The fresh air did him some good.
          11. v. (intransitive) To fare, perform (well or poorly).
                Our relationship isn't doing very well;  how do you do?
          12. v. (transitive, chiefly in questions) To have as one's job.
                What does Bob do? — He's a plumber.
          13. v. To perform the tasks or actions associated with (something)
                "Don't forget to do your report" means something quite different depending on whether you're a student or a programmer.
          14. v. To cook.
                I'll just do some eggs.
          15. v. To travel in, to tour, to make a circuit of.
                Let’s do New York also.
          16. v. To treat in a certain way.
          17. v. To work for or on, by way of caring for, looking after, preparing, cleaning, keeping in order, etc.
          18. v. (intransitive, obsolete) To act or behave in a certain manner; to conduct oneself.
          19. v. (see also do time) To spend (time) in jail.
                I did five years for armed robbery.
          20. v. To impersonate or depict.
                They really laughed when he did Clinton, with a perfect accent and a leer.
          21. v. (transitive, slang) To kill.
          22. v. (transitive, slang) To deal with for good and all; to finish up; to undo; to ruin; to do for.
          23. v. (informal) To punish for a misdemeanor.
                He got done for speeding.
                Teacher'll do you for that!
          24. v. (transitive, slang) To have sex with. (See also do it)
          25. v. To cheat or swindle.
                That guy just did me out of two hundred bucks!
          26. v. To convert into a certain form; especially, to translate.
                the novel has just been done into English;  I'm going to do this play into a movie
          27. v. (transitive, intransitive) To finish.
                Aren't you done yet?
          28. v. (dated) To work as a domestic servant (with for).
          29. v. (archaic, dialectal, transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the present progressive of verbs.
          30. v. (stock exchange) To cash or to advance money for, as a bill or note.
          31. v. (informal, transitive) To make or provide.
                Do they do haircuts there?
                Could you do me a burger with mayonnaise instead of ketchup?
          32. v. (informal, transitive) To injure (one's own body part).
          33. v. To take drugs.
                I do cocaine.
          34. v. (transitive, in the form be doing somewhere) To exist with a purpose or for a reason.
                What's that car doing in our swimming pool? -
          35. n. (colloquial) A party, celebration, social function.
                We’re having a bit of a do on Saturday to celebrate my birthday.
          36. n. (informal) A hairdo.
                Nice do!
          37. n. Something that can or should be done (usually in the phrase dos and don'ts).
          38. n. (obsolete) A deed; an act.
          39. n. (archaic) Ado; bustle; stir; to-do; A period of confusion or argument.
          40. n. (obsolete, UK, slang) A cheat; a swindler.
          41. n. (obsolete, UK, slang) An act of swindling; a fraud or deception.
          42. n. (music) A syllable used in solfège to represent the first and eighth tonic of a major scale.
          43. adv. (rare) (abbreviation of ditto)
     not
          1. adv. Negates the meaning of the modified verb.
                Did you take out the trash? No, I did not.
                Not knowing any better, I went ahead.
          2. adv. To no degree.
                That is not red; it's orange.
          3. conj. And not.
                I wanted a plate of shrimp, not a bucket of chicken.
                He painted the car blue and black, not solid purple.
          4. interj. (slang) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.
                I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney... not!
                Sure, you're perfect the way you are... not!
          5. n. Unary logical function NOT, true if input is false, or a gate implementing that negation function.
                You need a not there to conform with the negative logic of the memory chip.
          6. contraction. (obsolete) Contraction of ne wot, wot not; know not; knows not.
distress
     1. n. (Cause of) discomfort.
     2. n. Serious danger.
     3. n. (legal) A seizing of property without legal process to force payment of a debt.
     4. n. (legal) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction.
     5. v. To cause strain or anxiety to someone.
     6. v. (legal) To retain someone’s property against the payment of a debt; to distrain.
     7. v. To treat a new object to give it an appearance of age.
           a pair of distressed jeans
           She distressed the new media cabinet so that it fit with the other furniture in the room.
either
     1. det. One of two.
           You can have it in either colour.
     2. det. Each of two; both.
           There is a locomotive at either end of the train, one pulling and the other pushing.
     3. pron. One or other of two people or things.
           He made me two offers, but I did not accept either.
     4. pron. (obsolete) Both, each of two or more.
     5. adv. (conjunctive, after a negative) As well.
           I don't like him, and I don't like her either.
     6. conj. (Introduces the first of two (or occasionally more) options or possibilities, the second (or last) of which is introduced by "or").
           Either you eat your dinner or you go to your room.
           You can have either potatoes or rice with that, but not both.
           You'll be either early, late, or on time.
Dictionary entries from Wiktionary