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. | |
high |
1. adj. Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty. | |
The balloon rose high in the sky. The wall was high. a high mountain | |
2. adj. Pertaining to (or, especially of a language: spoken in) in an area which is at a greater elevation, for example more mountainous, than other regions. | |
3. adj. (baseball, of a ball) Above the batter's shoulders. | |
the pitch (or: the ball) was high | |
4. adj. Relatively elevated; rising or raised above the average or normal level from which elevation is measured. | |
5. adj. Having a specified elevation or height; tall. | |
three feet high three Mount Everests high | |
6. adj. Elevated in status, esteem, prestige; exalted in rank, station, or character. | |
The oldest of the elves' royal family still conversed in High Elvish. | |
7. adj. Most exalted; foremost. | |
the high priest, the high officials of the court, the high altar | |
8. adj. Of great importance and consequence: grave (if negative) or solemn (if positive). | |
high crimes, the high festival of the sun | |
9. adj. Consummate; advanced (e.g. in development) to the utmost extent or culmination, or possessing a quality in its supreme degree, at its zenith. | |
high (i.e. intense) heat; high (i.e. full or quite) noon; high (i.e. rich or spicy) seasoning; high (i.e. complete) pleasure; high (i.e. deep or vivid) colour; high (i.e. extensive, thorough) s | |
10. adj. Advanced in complexity (and hence potentially abstract and/or difficult to comprehend). | |
11. adj. (in several set phrases) Remote in distance or time. | |
high latitude, high antiquity | |
12. adj. (in several set phrases) Very traditionalist and conservative, especially in favoring older ways of doing things; see e.g. high church, High Tory. | |
13. adj. Elevated in mood; marked by great merriment, excitement, etc. | |
in high spirits | |
14. adj. (of a lifestyle) Luxurious; rich. | |
high living, the high life | |
15. adj. Lofty, often to the point of arrogant, haughty, boastful, proud. | |
a high tone | |
16. adj. (with "on" or "about") Keen, enthused. | |
17. adj. (of a body of water) With tall waves. | |
18. adj. Large, great (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc). | |
My bank charges me a high interest rate. I was running a high temperature and had high cholesterol. high voltage high prices high winds a high number | |
19. adj. Having a large or comparatively larger concentration of (a substance, (which is often but not always linked by "in" when predicative)). | |
Carrots are high in vitamin A. made from a high-copper alloy | |
20. adj. (acoustics) Acute or shrill in pitch, due to being of greater frequency, i.e. produced by more rapid vibrations (wave oscillations). | |
The note was too high for her to sing. | |
21. adj. (phonetics) Made with some part of the tongue positioned high in the mouth, relatively close to the palate. | |
22. adj. (card games) Greater in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc. | |
23. adj. (poker) Having the highest rank in a straight, flush or straight flush. | |
I have KT742 of the same suit. In other words, a K-high flush. | |
9-high straight = 98765 unsuited | |
Royal Flush = AKQJT suited = A-high straight flush | |
24. adj. (of a card or hand) Winning; able to take a trick, win a round, etc. | |
North's hand was high. East was in trouble. | |
25. adj. (of meat, especially venison) Strong-scented; slightly tainted/spoiled; beginning to decompose. | |
Epicures do not cook game before it is high. | |
The tailor liked his meat high. | |
26. adj. (slang) Intoxicated; under the influence of a mood-altering drug, formerly (until the early 20th century) usually alcohol, but now (by the mid 20th century) usually not alcohol but rather marijuana, c | |
27. adj. (nautical, of a sailing ship) Near, in its direction of travel, to the (direction of the) wind. | |
28. adv. In or to an elevated position. | |
How high above land did you fly? | |
29. adv. In or at a great value. | |
Costs have grown higher this year again. | |
30. adv. In a pitch of great frequency. | |
I certainly can't sing that high. | |
31. n. A high point or position, literally or figuratively; an elevated place; a superior region; a height; the sky; heaven. | |
32. n. A point of success or achievement; a time when things are at their best. | |
It was one of the highs of his career. | |
33. n. A period of euphoria, from excitement or from an intake of drugs. | |
That pill gave me a high for a few hours, before I had a comedown. | |
34. n. A drug that gives such a high. | |
35. n. (informal) A large area of elevated atmospheric pressure; an anticyclone. | |
A large high is centred on the Azores. | |
36. n. The maximum value attained by some quantity within a specified period. | |
Inflation reached a ten-year high. | |
37. n. The maximum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period. | |
Today's high was 32°C. | |
38. n. (card games) The highest card dealt or drawn. | |
39. v. (obsolete) To rise. | |
The sun higheth. | |
40. n. (obsolete) Thought; intention; determination; purpose. | |
41. v. To hie; to hasten. | |
bailiff |
1. n. (law enforcement) An officer of the court, particularly: | |
2. n. (historical, Norman term) A reeve, (specifically) the chief officer executing the decisions of any English court in the period following the Norman Con | |
3. n. (UK) A high bailiff: an officer of the county courts responsible for executing warrants and court orders, appointed by the judge and removable by the L | |
4. n. (UK) A bound bailiff: a deputy bailiff charged with debt collection. | |
5. n. (US, colloquial) Any law enforcement officer charged with courtroom security and order. | |
6. n. A huissier de justice or other foreign officer of the court acting as either a process server or as courtroom security. | |
7. n. A public administrator, particularly: | |
8. n. (obsolete) A king's man: any officer nominated by the English Crown. | |
9. n. (historical) The chief officer of a hundred in medieval England. | |
10. n. The title of the mayor of certain English towns. | |
11. n. The title of the castellan of certain royal castles in England. | |
12. n. The chief justice and president of the legislature on Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands. | |
13. n. The High Bailiff of the Isle of Man. | |
14. n. (obsolete) A bailie: an alderman in certain Scottish towns. | |
15. n. (historical) An appointee of the French king administering certain districts of northern France in the Middle Ages. | |
16. n. (historical) A head of a district ("bailiwick") of the Knights Hospitaller; a head of one of the national associations ("tongues") of the Hospitallers' | |
17. n. (historical) A landvogt in the medieval German states. | |
18. n. A private administrator, particularly (anchor, Steward) | |
19. n. (historical) A steward: the manager of a medieval manor charged with collecting its rents, etc. | |
20. n. (historical) An overseer: a supervisor of tenant farmers, serfs, or slaves, usually as part of his role as steward (see above). | |
21. n. (historical, mining) The foreman or overman of a mine. | |
22. n. (slang) Any debt collector, regardless of his or her official status. | |
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. | |
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. | |
isle |
1. n. A (small) island, compare with islet. | |
2. n. obsolete form of aisle | |
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. | |
man |
1. n. An adult male human. | |
The show is especially popular with middle-aged men. | |
2. n. (collective) All human males collectively: mankind. | |
3. n. A human, a person of either gender, usually an adult. (See usage notes.) | |
every man for himself | |
4. n. (collective) All humans collectively: mankind, humankind, humanity. (Sometimes capitalized as Man.) | |
5. n. (anthropology, archaeology, paleontology) A member of the genus Homo, especially of the species Homo sapiens. | |
6. n. (obsolete) A sentient being, whether human or supernatural. | |
7. n. An adult male who has, to an eminent degree, qualities considered masculine, such as strength, integrity, and devotion to family; a mensch. | |
8. n. (obsolete, uncommon) Manliness; the quality or state of being manly. | |
9. n. A husband. | |
10. n. A lover; a boyfriend. | |
11. n. A male enthusiast or devotee; a male who is very fond of or devoted to a specified kind of thing. (Used as the last element of a compound.) | |
Some people prefer apple pie, but me, I’m a cherry pie man. | |
12. n. A person, usually male, who has duties or skills associated with a specified thing. (Used as the last element of a compound.) | |
I wanted to be a guitar man on a road tour, but instead I’m a flag man on a road crew. | |
13. n. A person, usually male, who can fulfill one's requirements with regard to a specified matter. | |
14. n. A male who belongs to a particular group: an employee, a student or alumnus, a representative, etc. | |
15. n. An adult male servant. | |
16. n. (historical) A vassal. A subject. | |
Like master, like man. (old proverb) | |
all the king's men | |
17. n. A piece or token used in board games such as chess. | |
18. n. (Multicultural London English, slang) Used to refer to oneself or one's group: I, we; (non-gloss definition, construed in the third person). | |
19. n. A term of familiar address often implying on the part of the speaker some degree of authority, impatience, or haste. | |
Come on, man, we've got no time to lose! | |
20. n. A friendly term of address usually reserved for other adult males. | |
Hey, man, how's it goin'? | |
21. n. (sports) A player on whom another is playing, with the intent of limiting their attacking impact. | |
22. adj. only used in, man enough | |
23. interj. Used to place emphasis upon something or someone; sometimes, but not always, when actually addressing a man. | |
Man, that was a great catch! | |
24. v. To supply (something) with staff or crew (of either sex). | |
The ship was manned with a small crew. | |
25. v. To take up position in order to operate (something). | |
Man the machine guns! | |
26. v. (reflexive, possibly dated) To brace (oneself), to fortify or steel (oneself) in a manly way. (Compare man up.) | |
27. v. (transitive, obsolete) To wait on, attend to or escort. | |
28. v. (transitive, obsolete, chiefly falconry) To accustom (a raptor or other type of bird) to the presence of people. | |