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the [ stressed/emphatic ee, unstressed; before a vowel ee, unstressed; before a consonant ə ] CORE MEANING: an adjective, the definite article, used before a noun denoting somebody or something that has already been mentioned or identified, or something that is understood by both the speaker and hearer, as distinct from "a" or "an"
  The movie ended with the hero riding off into the desert.
The food was excellent but the service was poor. |
| Definition: |
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1. adjective indicating one as distinct from another: used to refer to one in particular of a number of things or people, identified as distinct from all others by the use of a modifier
Put them in the small bag.
the door on the left
the girl who answered the phone
the right to vote
the points made earlier
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2. indicating generic class: used to refer to a person or thing considered generically or universally
Exercise is good for the heart.
She played the violin.
The dog is a loyal pet.
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3. indicating shared experience: used to refer to objects and concepts associated with the shared experience of a culture, society, or community
go to the hospital
thinking about the future
lying in the sun
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4. all people of particular type: used before adjectives to refer generically to people of a particular type or class
new measures to help the unemployed
They say the good always die young.
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5. titles and names: used before titles and some names such as place names
the king of Spain
the Times newspaper
the president of the United States
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6. qualifying names and titles: used in names and titles before adjectives and nouns that distinguish somebody from others of the same name or title
Ivan the Terrible
Henry the Fifth
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7. indicating parts of body: used instead of a possessive such as "my" or "your" to refer to a part of somebody's body
patted him on the head
took her by the hand
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8. indicating most famous or important: the best, only, or most outstanding
It's the place to be.
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9. expressing rates and ratios: used to indicate how many units apply to each or every thing measured
available at $60 the ton
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10. indicating family relationship: used instead of a possessive such as "your" or "my" to refer to somebody having a particular family relationship
(
informal
)
Give my regards to the family.
How's the wife?
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11. period of time: used to refer to a period of time, especially a decade or an era
living in the sixties
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12. adverb to that extent: used adverbially to emphasize that somebody or something is true to a particular extent
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used before comparatives
)
She looks the better for her holiday.
the worse for wear
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13. adverb by how much or by that much: used adverbially to indicate how one amount or quality changes in relation to another
(
used before each of two comparative adjectives or adverbs
)
the cheaper the better
The more you exercise, the fitter you'll feel.
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| [ Old English þe, earlier se< Indo-European] |
