nor |
1. conj. (literary) And not (introducing a negative statement, without necessarily following one). | |
Nor did I stop to think, but ran. | |
2. conj. A function word introducing each except the first term or series, indicating none of them is true. | |
I am neither hungry nor thirsty nor tired. | |
3. conj. Used to introduce a further negative statement. | |
The struggle didn't end, nor was it any less diminished. | |
4. conj. (dialect) Than. | |
He's no better nor you. | |
5. n. (logic, electronics) alternative form of NOR | |
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. | |
course |
1. n. A sequence of events. | |
The normal course of events seems to be just one damned thing after another. | |
2. n. A normal or customary sequence. | |
3. n. A programme, a chosen manner of proceeding. | |
4. n. Any ordered process or sequence or steps. | |
5. n. A learning program, as in a school. | |
I need to take a French course. | |
6. n. (especially in medicine) A treatment plan. | |
7. n. A stage of a meal. | |
We offer seafood as the first course. | |
8. n. The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn. | |
9. n. A path that something or someone moves along. | |
His illness ran its course. | |
10. n. The itinerary of a race. | |
The cross-country course passes the canal. | |
11. n. A racecourse. | |
12. n. The path taken by a flow of water; a watercourse. | |
13. n. (sports) The trajectory of a ball, frisbee etc. | |
14. n. (golf) A golf course. | |
15. n. (nautical) The direction of movement of a vessel at any given moment. | |
The ship changed its course 15 degrees towards south. | |
16. n. (navigation) The intended passage of voyage, such as a boat, ship, airplane, spaceship, etc. | |
A course was plotted to traverse the ocean. | |
17. n. (nautical) The lowest square sail in a fully rigged mast, often named according to the mast. | |
Main course and mainsail are the same thing in a sailing ship. | |
18. n. (in the courses, obsolete, euphemistic) Menses. | |
19. n. A row or file of objects. | |
20. n. (masonry) A row of bricks or blocks. | |
On a building that size, two crews could only lay two courses in a day. | |
21. n. (roofing) A row of material that forms the roofing, waterproofing or flashing system. | |
22. n. (textiles) In weft knitting, a single row of loops connecting the loops of the preceding and following rows. | |
23. n. (music) One or more strings on some musical instruments (such as the guitar, lute or vihuela): if multiple, then closely spaced, tuned in unison or octaves and intended to played together. | |
24. v. To run or flow (especially of liquids and more particularly blood). | |
The oil coursed through the engine. | |
Blood pumped around the human body courses throughout all its veins and arteries. | |
25. v. To run through or over. | |
26. v. To pursue by tracking or estimating the course taken by one's prey; to follow or chase after. | |
27. v. To cause to chase after or pursue game. | |
to course greyhounds after deer | |
28. adv. (colloquial) alternative form of of course | |
should |
1. v. (auxiliary) Be obliged to; have an obligation to; indicates that the subject of the sentence has some obligation to execute the sentence predicate or that the speaker has some strong advice but has no | |
What do I think? What should I do? | |
You should never drink and drive. | |
You should always wear a seat belt. | |
2. v. (auxiliary) ought to; speaker's opinion, or advice that an action is correct, beneficial, or desirable. | |
You should brush your teeth every day. | |
I should exercise more often, but I'm too lazy. | |
3. v. (auxiliary) Will be likely to (become or do something); indicates a degree of possibility or probability that the subject of the sentence is likely to execute the sentence predicate. | |
When you press this button, the pilot flame should ignite. | |
You should be warm enough with that coat. | |
4. v. (auxiliary, subjunctive) Used as a variant of the present subjunctive. | |
If I should be late, go without me. | |
Should you need extra blankets, you will find them in the closet. | |
5. v. (auxiliary) simple past tense of shall | |
I told him that I should be busy tomorrow. | |
6. v. (auxiliary, formal, literary) A variant of would when used with first person subjects. | |
I should imagine that everything is fine right now. | |
I should be lucky if I were you. | |
7. n. A statement of what ought to be the case as opposed to what is the case. | |
shall |
1. v. (modal, auxiliary verb, defective) Used before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural. | |
I shall sing in the choir tomorrow. | |
I hope that we shall win the game. | |
2. v. Used similarly to indicate determination or obligation in the second and third persons singular or plural. | |
(determination): You shall go to the ball! | |
(obligation): Citizens shall provide proof of identity. | |
3. v. Used in questions with the first person singular or plural to suggest a possible future action. | |
Shall I help you with that? | |
Shall we go out later? | |
Let us examine that, shall we? | |
4. v. (obsolete) To owe. | |
we |
1. pron. (personal) The speakers/writers, or the speaker/writer and at least one other person (not the person being addressed). (This is the exclusive we.) | |
2. pron. (personal) The speaker(s)/writer(s) and the person(s) being addressed. (This is the inclusive we.) | |
3. pron. (personal) The speaker/writer alone. (This use of we is the editorial we, used by writers and others, including royalty—the royal we—as a less personal substitute for I. The reflexive case of this sen | |
4. pron. (personal) The plural form of you, including everyone being addressed. | |
How are we all tonight? | |
5. pron. (personal, generally considered patronising) A second- or third-person pronoun for a person in the speaker's care. | |
How are we feeling this morning? | |
6. det. The speakers/writers, or the speaker/writer and at least one other person. | |
We Canadians like to think of ourselves as different. | |
leave |
1. v. To have a consequence or remnant. | |
2. v. To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (somet | |
I left my car at home and took a bus to work. The ants did not leave so much as a crumb of bread. There's not much food left. We'd be | |
3. v. To cause, to result in. | |
The lightning left her dazzled for several minutes. Infantile paralysis left him lame for the rest of his life. | |
4. v. To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver, with a sense of withdrawing oneself. | |
Leave your hat in the hall. We should leave the legal matters to lawyers. I left my sewing and went to the window to watch the fallin | |
5. v. To depart; to separate from. | |
6. v. To let be or do without interference. | |
I left him to his reflections. I leave my hearers to judge. | |
7. v. To depart from; to end one's connection or affiliation with. | |
I left the country and I left my wife. | |
8. v. To end one's membership in (a group); to terminate one's affiliation with (an organization); to stop participating in (a project). | |
I left the band. | |
9. v. (intransitive) To depart; to go away from a certain place or state. | |
I think you'd better leave. | |
10. v. To transfer something. | |
11. v. To transfer possession of after death. | |
When my father died, he left me the house. | |
12. v. To give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit. | |
I'll leave the car in the station so you can pick it up there. | |
13. v. To transfer responsibility or attention of (something) (to someone); to stop being concerned with. | |
Can't we just leave this to the experts? | |
14. v. (intransitive, obsolete) To remain (behind); to stay. | |
15. v. (transitive, archaic) To stop, desist from; to "leave off" (+ noun / gerund). | |
16. n. (cricket) The action of the batsman not attempting to play at the ball. | |
17. n. (billiards) The arrangement of balls in play that remains after a shot is made (which determines whether the next shooter — who may be either the same player, or an opponent — has good options, or onl | |
18. n. Permission to be absent; time away from one's work. | |
I've been given three weeks' leave by my boss. | |
19. n. (dated, or legal) Permission. | |
Might I beg leave to accompany you? | |
The applicant now seeks leave to appeal and, if leave be granted, to appeal against these sentences. | |
20. n. (dated) Farewell, departure. | |
I took my leave of the gentleman without a backward glance. | |
21. v. To give leave to; allow; permit; let; grant. | |
22. v. (intransitive, rare) To produce leaves or foliage.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. | |
23. v. (obsolete) To raise; to levy. | |
out |
See also individual phrasal verbs such as come out, go out, put out, take out, pull out, and so on. | |
1. adv. Away from the inside or the centre. | |
The magician pulled the rabbit out of the hat. | |
2. adv. Away from home or one's usual place. | |
Let's eat out tonight | |
3. adv. Outside; not indoors. | |
Last night we slept out under the stars. | |
4. adv. Away from; at a distance. | |
Keep out! | |
5. adv. Into a state of non-operation; into non-existence. | |
Switch the lights out. | |
Put the fire out. | |
6. adv. To the end; completely. | |
I hadn't finished. Hear me out. | |
7. adv. Used to intensify or emphasize. | |
The place was all decked out for the holidays. | |
8. adv. (of the sun, moon, stars, etc.) So as to be visible in the sky, and not covered by clouds, fog, etc. | |
The sun came out after the rain, and we saw a rainbow. | |
9. adv. (cricket, baseball) Of a player, so as to be disqualified from playing further by some action of a member of the opposing team (such as being stumped in cricket). | |
Wilson was bowled out for five runs. | |
10. prep. (nonstandard, contraction of out of) Away from the inside. | |
He threw it out the door. | |
11. prep. (colloquial) Outside. | |
It's raining out. | |
It's cold out. | |
12. n. A means of exit, escape, reprieve, etc. | |
They wrote the law to give those organizations an out. | |
13. n. (baseball) A state in which a member of the batting team is removed from play due to the application of various rules of the game such as striking out, hitting a fly ball which is caught by the fieldi | |
14. n. (cricket) A dismissal; a state in which a member of the batting team finishes his turn at bat, due to the application of various rules of the game, such as the bowler knocking over the batsman's wicke | |
15. n. (poker) A card which can make a hand a winner. | |
16. n. (dated) A trip out; an outing. | |
17. n. (mostly, in plural) One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office. | |
18. n. A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space. | |
19. n. (printing, dated) A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission. | |
20. v. To eject; to expel. | |
21. v. To reveal (a person) to be gay, bisexual, or transgender. | |
22. v. To reveal (a person or organization) as having a certain secret, such as a being a secret agent or undercover detective. | |
23. v. To reveal (a secret). | |
A Brazilian company outed the new mobile phone design. | |
24. v. (intransitive, archaic) To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public. | |
25. v. To become apparent. | |
26. adj. Not at home; not at one's office or place of employment. | |
I'm sorry, Mr Smith is out at the moment. | |
27. adj. Released, available for purchase, download or other use. | |
Did you hear? Their newest CD is out! | |
28. adj. (in various games; used especially of a batsman or batter in cricket or baseball) Dismissed from play under the rules of the game. | |
He bowls, Johnson pokes at it ... and ... Johnson is out! Caught behind by Ponsonby! | |
29. adj. Openly acknowledging that one is gay or transgender. | |
It's no big deal to be out in the entertainment business. | |
30. adj. (of flowers) In bloom. | |
The garden looks beautiful now that the roses are out. | |
31. adj. (of the sun, moon or stars) Visible in the sky; not obscured by clouds. | |
The sun is out, and it's a lovely day. | |
32. adj. (of lamps, fires etc.) Not shining or burning. | |
I called round to the house but all the lights were out and no one was home. | |
33. adj. (of ideas, plans, etc.) Discarded; no longer a possibility. | |
Right, so that idea's out. Let's move on to the next one. | |
34. adj. No longer popular or in fashion. | |
Black is out this season. The new black is white. | |
35. adj. Without; no longer in possession of; not having more | |
Do you have any bread? Sorry, we're out. | |
36. adj. (of calculations or measurements) Containing errors or discrepancies; in error by a stated amount. | |
Nothing adds up in this report. All these figures are out. | |
The measurement was out by three millimetres. | |
37. adj. (obsolete) Of a young lady: having entered society and available to be courted. | |
38. interj. (procedure word, especially, military) A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and does not expect a response. | |
Destruction. Two T-72s destroyed. Three foot mobiles down. Out. | |
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. | |
highbrow |
1. adj. Intellectually stimulating, highly cultured, sophisticated. | |
2. n. A cultured or learned person or thing; an intellectual or scholar. | |