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. | |
situation |
1. n. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings. | |
The Botanical Gardens are in a delightful situation on the river bank. | |
2. n. The place in which something is situated; a location. | |
3. n. Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances. | |
4. n. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs. | |
The United States is in an awkward situation with debt default looming. | |
5. n. (dated) A position of employment; a post. | |
6. n. A difficult or unpleasant set of circumstances; a problem. | |
Boss, we've got a situation here... | |
was |
1. v. first-person singular past of be. | |
2. v. third-person singular past of be. | |
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? | |
diffused |
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of diffuse | |
diffuse |
1. v. To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means. | |
2. v. (intransitive) To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means. | |
Food coloring diffuses in water. | |
The riot diffused quite suddenly. | |
3. adj. Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated. | |
Such a diffuse effort is unlikely to produce good results. | |
4. adj. Wordy; verbose. | |
but |
1. prep. (obsolete, outside, Scotland) Outside of. | |
Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there. | |
2. prep. Apart from, except (for), excluding. | |
Everyone but Father left early. | |
I like everything but that. | |
Nobody answered the door when I knocked, so I had no choice but to leave. | |
3. adv. Merely, only, just. | |
4. adv. (Australian, conjunctive) Though, however. | |
I'll have to go home early but. | |
5. adv. Used as an intensifier. | |
Nobody, but nobody, crosses me and gets away with it. | |
6. conj. (following a negative clause or sentence) On the contrary, but rather (introducing a word or clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence without the negation). | |
I am not rich but (I am) poor; not John but Peter went there. | |
7. conj. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (implies that the following clause is contrary to prior belief or contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence). | |
She is very old but still attractive. | |
You told me I could do that, but she said that I could not. | |
8. conj. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "ex | |
I cannot but feel offended. | |
9. conj. (archaic) Without its also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant). | |
It never rains but it pours. | |
10. conj. (obsolete) Except with; unless with; without. | |
11. conj. (obsolete) Only; solely; merely. | |
12. conj. (obsolete) Until. | |
13. n. An instance or example of using the word "but". | |
It has to be done – no ifs or buts. | |
14. n. (Scotland) The outer room of a small two-room cottage. | |
15. n. A limit; a boundary. | |
16. n. The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt. | |
17. v. (archaic) Use the word "but". | |
But me no buts. | |
only |
1. adj. Alone in a category. | |
He is the only doctor for miles. | |
The only people in the stadium were the fans: no players, coaches, or officials. | |
That was the only time I went to Turkey. | |
2. adj. Singularly superior; the best. | |
He is the only trombonist to recruit. | |
3. adj. Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender. | |
He is their only son, in fact, an only child. | |
4. adj. (obsolete) Mere. | |
5. adv. Without others or anything further; exclusively. | |
My heart is hers, and hers only. The cat sat only on the mat. It kept off the sofa. | |
6. adv. No more than; just. | |
The cat only sat on the mat. It didn't scratch it. If there were only one more ticket! | |
7. adv. As recently as. | |
He left only moments ago. | |
8. adv. (obsolete) Above all others; particularly. | |
9. conj. Under the condition that; but. | |
10. conj. But; except. | |
I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg. | |
11. n. An only child. | |
just |
1. adj. Factually right, correct; factual. | |
It is a just assessment of the facts. | |
2. adj. Rationally right, correct. | |
3. adj. Morally right; upright, righteous, equitable; fair. | |
It looks like a just solution at first glance. | |
4. adj. Proper, adequate. | |
5. adv. Only, simply, merely. | |
Plant just a few tomatoes, unless you can freeze or dry them. | |
He calls it vermilion, but it's just red to me. | |
6. adv. (sentence adverb) Used to reduce the force of an imperative; simply. | |
Just follow the directions on the box. | |
7. adv. (speech act) Used to convey a less serious or formal tone | |
I just called to say "hi". | |
8. adv. (speech act) Used to show humility. | |
Lord, we just want to thank You and praise Your Name. | |
9. adv. (degree) absolutely, positively | |
It is just splendid! | |
10. adv. Moments ago, recently. | |
They just left, but you may leave a message at the desk. | |
11. adv. By a narrow margin; closely; nearly. | |
The fastball just missed my head! | |
The piece just might fit. | |
12. adv. Exactly, precisely, perfectly. | |
He wants everything just right for the big day. | |
13. interj. (slang) Expressing dismay or discontent. | |
14. n. A joust, tournament. | |
15. v. To joust, fight a tournament. | |