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it was probably about six o'clock

1 potere

1. v/i can, be able to

non posso andare I can't go

non ho potuto farlo I couldn't do it, I was unable to do it

posso fumare? do you mind if I smoke?

formale may I smoke?

può essere perhaps, maybe

può darsi perhaps, maybe

2. m power

potere d'acquisto purchasing power

essere al potere be in power

* * *

potere v.servile

1 (possibilità materiale o dipendente dalla capacità del sogg.) can (indic. e cong.pres.); could (indic. e cong.pass., cond.); to be* able: puoi venire quando vuoi, you can come when you like; può frequentare qualsiasi tipo di scuola, he can attend any kind of school; posso camminare per ore senza stancarmi, I can walk for hours without getting tired; non possiamo andare avanti così, we can't go on like this; non sempre si può fare ciò che si vuole, you can't always do what you like; come puoi pensare una cosa simile?, how can (o could) you think such a thing?; che cosa posso fare per te?, what can I do for you?; non poteva fare di più, he couldn't do any more; faremo quello che potremo, we'll do what we can; non potrà giocare perché si è infortunato, he can't play (o he won't be able to play) because he's been injured; stanotte non ho potuto dormire, I couldn't (o I wasn't able to) sleep last night; a quel punto, non potevano fare più nulla, at that point there was no more they could do (o they couldn't do anything else); non potè dire altro, he couldn't say anything else; come hai potuto farmi un torto simile?, how could you do this to me?; non può aver detto questo, he can't have said that; potrebbe tornare più tardi?, could you come back later?; potresti farmi un favore?, could you do me a favour?; ti aiuterei se potessi, I would help you if I could; se l'avessi saputo prima, avrei potuto aiutarti, if I'd known it before, I could have helped you; potevi almeno telefonarmi, you could at least have phoned me; in quella situazione che altro potevo fare?, what else could I have done in that situation?; potendo, lascerei la città e andrei a vivere in campagna, I'd leave the city and go and live in the country, if I could (o if I could, I'd leave...); non avendo potuto parlargli, gli lasciai un messaggio, not having been able (o having been unable) to speak to him, I left him a message; prometto di fare tutto ciò che posso, I promise I'll do all I can (o I'll do my best); vorrei poterti aiutare, I wish I could help you

2 ( possibilità dipendente dalla volontà altrui) may (indic. e cong. pres.), might (indic.pass. nel discorso indiretto e cond.) ( entrambe le forme sono spesso sostituite nell'uso corrente da can, could, to be* able); to be* allowed, to be* permitted: posso fumare?, may I smoke (o is it all right if I smoke?); non si può fumare nei locali pubblici, smoking is not allowed (o permitted) in public places; se posso esprimere un parere..., if I may express an opinion...; posso farle una domanda?, may (o can) I ask you a question?; ''Possiamo entrare?'' ''No, è vietato l'ingresso al pubblico'', ''May (o Can) we come (o go) in?'' ''No, members of the public are not allowed to enter (o are not admitted o form. may not enter)''; potete pagare in contanti o in assegno, you can (o may) pay cash or by cheque; gli interessati possono presentare domanda di trasferimento, those concerned (o interested) may request a transfer; non puoi vedere quel film, è vietato ai minori, you can't see (o you aren't allowed to see) that film, it's an X certificate; non ci si può comportare così!, you can't (o you mustn't) behave like that!; chiese se poteva vederlo, he asked if he could (o form. might o might be permitted to) see him; disse che potevamo usare la sua macchina fotografica, he said we could (o form. might) use his camera; non abbiamo potuto passare dal centro perché era chiuso al traffico, we couldn't (o we were unable to o not allowed to) go through the centre, because it was closed to traffic; nessuno potrà assentarsi senza autorizzazione, no one can leave without permission; i certificati si possono ritirare solo in orario d'ufficio, certificates can (o may) only be collected during office hours; non puoi dire questo!, you can't (o you mustn't) say that!; non può che essere un errore, it must be a mistake; non può non rendersi conto che..., he must realise that...; non posso fare a meno di ammettere che..., I must (o have to) admit that... ∙ Come si nota dagli esempi, in questo significato l'uso di may, might è più formale di can, could; in espressioni negative con valore enfatico viene spesso usato must

3 ( per esprimere eventualità) may, might; can, could; ( probabilità) to be* likely; to be* possible: posso, potrei sbagliarmi, I may, could (o might) be wrong; potresti aver ragione, you may (o could) be right; potrebbe arrivare domani, ma ne dubito, he might (o could) arrive tomorrow, but I doubt it; tutti possono sbagliare, anyone can make a mistake; potrei non giungere in tempo, I might not arrive in time; potrebbe esserci un errore, there might (o could) be a mistake; può essere utile sapere che..., it may help to know that...; può, potrebbe piovere, it may, might (o could) rain (o it's likely to rain); potevano essere circa le 3, it could (o might) have been about 3 o'clock; potrà sembrarti buffo, ma io la ritengo una cosa seria, you may (o might) think it's funny, but I think it's serious; ''Che cosa può essergli successo?'' ''Potrebbe aver perso il treno'', ''What can have happened to him?'' ''He may (o might) have missed the train''; cosa pensi che possa accadere?, what do you think is likely to (o might o could) happen?; chi potrebbe essere a quest'ora?, who could it be at this hour?; non è escluso che possa ancora vincere, he may (o might o could) still win // può essere, può darsi, maybe: ''Mi sembri di cattivo umore, oggi'' ''Può essere'', ''You look as if you're in a bad mood today'' ''Maybe''; ''Ti vedrò stasera?'' ''Può darsi'', ''Shall I see you this evening?'' ''Maybe'' // può darsi che, may (costr. pers.); maybe: può darsi che ti abbia scritto, maybe he has (o he may have) written to you; potrebbe darsi che avesse perso l'indirizzo, maybe he had (o he may have) lost the address; poteva darsi che non avesse capito, maybe he hadn't understood (o he may not have understood)

4 (al cong., per esprimere augurio o forte desiderio) may, might; could: ( che) possiate essere felici!, may you be happy!; possa egli vivere cent'anni!, may he live a hundred years!; potessimo stare un po' tranquilli!, if only we might have a bit of peace!; ( magari) potessi aiutarlo!, if only I could help him!

5 (al cond., per esprimere consiglio o esortazione) might, could: potresti almeno rispondere quando ti parlo!, you could (o might) at least answer when I speak to you!; avrebbe potuto per lo meno ringraziare!, he might (o could) at least have said thank you; potrebbero essere più gentili!, they might (o could) be more polite!; non era una prova facile, ma avresti potuto almeno tentare!, it wasn't an easy test, but you could (o might) at least have tried!

◆ v.tr. (avere potere, forza, influenza) to have an influence, to have an effect (on): l'esempio di un padre può molto sui figli, a father's example has a great influence on his children; le mie parole hanno potuto assai poco, my words had little effect // è uno che può, ( che ha denaro) he is a man of means; ( che ha potere) he's got a lot of pull.

◆ FRASEOLOGIA: a più non posso, all out: stava lavorando a più non posso, he was working all out // non ne posso più, ( sono sfinito) I'm exhausted, ( sono al limite della sopportazione) I'm at the end of my tether (o I can't take any more); non ne posso più di quell'uomo, I can't put up with that man any longer (o I've had enough of that man) // volere è potere, where there's a will there's a way // si salvi chi può, every man for himself // non posso fare a meno di pensare che..., I can't help thinking that... // non posso fare a meno di lui, I can't do without him; ( mi è indispensabile nel lavoro) I can't spare him // non posso farci niente, I can't help it (o I can't do anything about it) // non possiamo permetterci quel viaggio, we can't afford that trip // portane più che puoi, bring as much (o as many) as you can; vieni più in fretta che puoi, come as fast as you can; vieni più presto che puoi, come as soon as you can.

potere s.m.

1 power (anche fig.): potere assoluto, absolute power: avere potere assoluto su un popolo, to hold complete sway over a people; potere esecutivo, legislativo, executive, legislative power; potere centrale, periferico, central, local authority; la divisione del potere in uno stato democratico, the division of power in a democratic state; conflitto di potere tra l'autorità giudiziaria e quella politica, power struggle between the courts and the political authorities; i poteri governativi, governmental powers; il potere temporale del Papa, the temporal power of the Pope; abuso di potere, abuse of power; sete di potere, thirst for power; non ho il potere di decidere su questo punto, I have no power to decide on this point; ho il potere di scegliere ciò che voglio, I have the power to choose what I want; non ho potere su di loro, I have no power over them; avere poteri magici, to have magic powers // al potere, in power: i militari sono al potere, the military are in power; rimanere al potere, to remain in power; si impadronì del potere con un colpo di stato, he came into power through a coup d'état; la sua ascesa al potere fu rapida, his rise to power was rapid; salì al potere nel 1731, he rose to power in 1731; perse il potere nel 1930, he lost power in 1930 // in mio, tuo potere, in my, your power: cadde in suo potere, he fell into his power (o into his hands); la città è caduta in potere del nemico, the city fell into enemy hands; potere decisionale, decision-making power // potere operaio, workers' power // Quarto Potere, ( la stampa) Fourth Estate // Quinto Potere, ( la radio e la televisione) the broadcasting media (o the networks) // (econ.): potere contrattuale, bargaining power; potere di spesa, spending power; potere d'acquisto, purchasing (o buying) power; potere monopolistico, monopoly power; potere economico, economic power; potere di contrarre debiti, borrowing power // (fin.): potere finanziario, financial power; potere liberatorio, ( della moneta) debt-paying power

2 (spec. pl.) ( potestà, diritti) powers: i poteri di un ministro, the powers of a minister: dare, conferire a qlcu. il potere di fare qlco., to give s.o. the authority (o the power) to do sthg.; vorrei definire i miei poteri, I should like to define my powers // pieni poteri, full powers; ambasciatore con pieni poteri, (ambassador) plenipotentiary; agire con, avere pieni poteri, to act, to be invested with full powers; nell'azienda gode di pieni poteri, he has full control over the company; dare, conferire pieni poteri, to grant full powers: dare, conferire pieni poteri a qlcu. di fare qlco., to empower s.o. to do sthg.

3 ( possibilità) power, possibility; ( capacità) power, capacity: non ha il potere di agire in altro modo, he isn't able to act in any other way

4 (fis.) power: potere assorbente, dispersivo, absorbent, dispersive power; potere calorifico, heating power; potere emissivo, emittance; potere rotatorio, rotatory power

5 ( influenza) influence, sway: ha un grande potere su di me, he has great influence over me; le tue parole non hanno potere su di me, what you say has no effect on me (o form. your words have no power over me).

* * *
I [po'tere] sm
(gen) power

una lotta per il potere — a power struggle

avere il potere di fare qc — (capacità) to have the power o ability to do sth, (autorità) to have the authority o power to do sth

ha il potere di rovinare sempre tutto — he always manages to ruin everything

il quarto potere — (stampa) the fourth estate

non ho nessun potere su di lui — I have no power o influence over him

essere al potere Pol — to be in power o in office

- potere d'acquisto

- potere esecutivo
II [po'tere]
1. vb irreg aus nei tempi composti prende l'ausiliare del verbo che accompagna

1) (possibilità, capacità) can, (sogg : persona) can, to be able to

non posso venire — I can't come

non è potuto venire — he couldn't come, he was unable to come

potresti aprire la finestra? — could you open the window?

non potrò venire domani — I won't be able to come tomorrow

dovresti potercela fare da solo — you should be able to do it by yourself

non potrà mai farlo da solo — he'll never be able to do it alone

non ho potuto farlo — I couldn't o wasn't able o was unable to do it

come hai potuto fare una cosa simile? — how could you do a thing like that?

a più non posso — (correre) as fast as one can, (urlare) as loud as one can

2) (permesso) can, may

posso? — may I?

posso entrare? — can o may I come in?

potrei parlarti? — could I have a word with you?

si può sapere dove sei stato? — where on earth have you been?

si può visitare il castello tutti i giorni dell'anno — you can visit the castle any day of the year

3)

(eventualità) può anche esser vero — it may o might o could even be true

può aver avuto un incidente — he may have had an accident

può darsi che non venga — he may not o might not come

può essere che non voglia — he may not o might not want to

può accadere di tutto — anything can happen

potrebbe avere trent'anni — he must be about thirty

si può fare — it can be done

può darsi — perhaps

pensi di andarci? - può darsi — do you think you'll go? - perhaps

4)

(augurio) potessimo trovare un po' di pace! — if only we could get a little peace!

5)

(rimprovero) potresti almeno ringraziare! — you could o might at least say thank you!

avresti potuto dirmelo! — you could o might have told me!

2. vt irreg

puoi molto per me — you can do a lot for me

non ha potuto niente — he could do nothing

non ne posso più! — I can't take any more!

* * *
I [po'tere]
verbo modale (the use of the auxiliary essere or avere in compound tenses depends on the verb in the infinitive that follows)

1) (riuscire, essere in grado di) can, to be* able to

puoi sollevare questa scatola? — can you lift this box?

non potrà venire — he won't be able to come

non appena potrò — as soon as I can

se potrò permettermelo, comprerò una macchina — if I can afford it, I'll buy a car

potevo appena respirare — I could hardly breathe

potrebbe fare (di) meglio — he could do better

avrebbe potuto farlo — she could have done it

non posso farci niente — there's nothing I can do about that

faccio quello che posso — I'm doing my best

per quel che posso — insofar as I can

non ne posso più — I've had it

non ne posso più di tutta questa storia — I'm fed up with the whole business

2) (per esprimere possibilità) can, may; (più remota) could, might; (per esprimere probabilità, opportunità) may, to be* likely; (più remota) might

chiunque può iscriversi — anyone can enrol

non puoi averlo dimenticato! — you can't have forgotten!

potrebbe essere Andy — it may be Andy; (meno probabile) it might be Andy

può essere stato Jim — it may have been Jim

potrebbe essere che... — it could be that...

potrei sbagliarmi — I could be wrong

potrebbe capitare che io parta — I could o might leave

puoi sempre cambiarlo — you can always change it

potevano essere state le sei — it was probably about six o'clock

non può non vincere — he's bound to win

può darsi — maybe, perhaps, possibly

può darsi che sia così, ma... — that's as may be, but...

può darsi che i prezzi aumentino — prices may o might rise

"vieni?" - "può darsi" — "will you come" - "I might"

3) (per esprimere permesso, autorizzazione) can, to be* allowed to, may form.

posso entrare? — may I come in?

posso usare la tua auto? — can I use your car?

gli studenti non possono uscire dall'edificio senza autorizzazione — pupils can't o may not leave o are not allowed to leave the school without permission

si può fumare qui? — is smoking allowed here?

4) (nelle richieste) can; (più cortese) would, could

puoi farmi un favore? — can you do me a favour?

potrei parlare con John? — could I speak to John?

potreste fare silenzio, per favore? — would you please be quiet?

5) (nelle offerte) can

posso darti una mano? — can I give you a hand?

che cosa posso fare per lei? — what can I do for you?

6) (per suggerire, dare un consiglio) can, could

potremmo andare al cinema stasera — we could go to the cinema tonight

puoi comprargli una camicia — you can buy him a shirt

7) (essere nella condizione, posizione di) can

non si può certo biasimarla — one can hardily blame her

non può non o che accettare he has no option but to accept; (per esprimere rimprovero) come hai potuto! how could you! avrebbero potuto o potevano avvertirci they could have warned us; non potevi dirmelo subito? why couldn't you have told me that right away? why didn't you tell me that right away? (per esprimere sorpresa) che può mai volere da me? — what can she possibly want from me?

8) (in espressioni ellittiche)

una persona che può — (che ha denaro) a person of means; (che ha potere) a very influential person

lui può — iron. he's got a lot of pull

9) (in espressioni di augurio)

possa la vostra vita essere felice — may you live happily

10) a più non posso [ correre] as fast as one can; [ lavorare] as hard as one can, flat out; [ mangiare] as much as one can; [ gridare] at the top of one's voice

••

volere è potere — prov. where there's a will, there's a way
II [po'tere]
sostantivo maschile

1) (capacità) ability, capability, power

avere il potere di fare — to be able to do

-i magici, soprannaturali — magic, supernatural powers

2) (influenza, autorità) power (su over)

la tiene in suo potere — he's got her in his power

esercitare un potere su qcn. — to hold sway over sb.

non avere nessun potere su qcn. — to have no power o influence over sb.

non ho il potere di prendere una decisione simile — I'm not the one who decides

3) pol. power

potere assoluto — absolute power

gioco di potere — power game

essere al potere — to be in power

prendere o assumere il potere to take power; rimanere al potere to stay in power; dare pieni -i a qcn. to give sb. full powers; avere pieni -i to have all powers; il quarto potere the fourth estate; il quinto potere — = the broadcasting media

•

potere d'acquisto — purchasing o spending power

potere esecutivo — executive power

potere giudiziario — judiciary

potere legislativo — legislative power

- i straordinari — emergency power

* * *

potere²

/po'tere/

sostantivo m.

1 (capacità) ability, capability, power; avere il potere di fare to be able to do; -i magici, soprannaturali magic, supernatural powers

2 (influenza, autorità) power (su over); la tiene in suo potere he's got her in his power; esercitare un potere su qcn. to hold sway over sb.; non avere nessun potere su qcn. to have no power o influence over sb.; non ho il potere di prendere una decisione simile I'm not the one who decides

3 pol. power; potere assoluto absolute power; gioco di potere power game; essere al potere to be in power; prendere o assumere il potere to take power; rimanere al potere to stay in power; dare pieni -i a qcn. to give sb. full powers; avere pieni -i to have all powers; il quarto potere the fourth estate; il quinto potere = the broadcasting media

COMPOUNDS

potere d'acquisto purchasing o spending power; potere esecutivo executive power; potere giudiziario judiciary; potere legislativo legislative power; - i straordinari emergency power.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese > potere
2 potevano essere state le sei

potevano essere state le sei

it was probably about six o'clock

\

→ potere

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese > potevano essere state le sei
3 forse

perhaps, maybe

mettere in forse cast doubt on

* * *

forse avv.

1 perhaps, maybe, possibly: forse arriveranno domani, perhaps (o maybe) they will arrive tomorrow; forse avevi ragione, perhaps (o maybe) you were right; forse un giorno si pentirà di aver preso questa decisione, one day he may be sorry he made this decision; ho forse detto qualcosa che non va?, have I said something wrong, maybe?; ''Andrai in Inghilterra quest'estate?'' ''Forse'', ''Are you going to England this summer?'' ''Maybe'' (o ''Possibly''); ''Ci vedremo alla riunione?'' ''Forse'', ''Will we see each other at the meeting?'' ''Possibly'' (o ''Maybe''); non abbiamo questo libro; potrebbe forse trovarlo in biblioteca, we haven't got this book, you might be able to find it in the library // forse ( che) sì, forse ( che) no, perhaps so, perhaps not // Con uso rafforzativo: ha rinunciato a quell'incarico, e forse forse è stato meglio così, he gave up the post and perhaps it was for the best; avrò venti giorni di ferie, forse forse un mese, I'll get three weeks' holiday, maybe even a month; e se, forse forse, avesse avuto ragione lui?, what if he was right? ∙ Come si nota dagli esempi, in questo significato si può usare il verbo may in luogo dell'avverbio che esprime eventualità

2 ( probabilmente) probably: ci vedremo forse stasera, we'll probably see each other this evening; non ha telefonato perché forse se n'è dimenticato, he hasn't phoned, so he's probably forgotten; forse ti sembrerà strano, ma..., you will probably think it strange but...

3 ( circa) about, some: avrà avuto forse 50 anni, he must have been about 50 years old; erano forse le sei, it was about six o'clock; saranno forse una trentina in tutto, there must be about thirty of them in all; i dimostranti nella piazza saranno stati forse in 200, there must have been some 200 demonstrators in the square

4 ( con uso enfatico o retorico): non siamo forse amici?, we're friends, aren't we?; è forse questa la maniera di comportarsi?, is this the way to behave?; forse che non ti ho sempre consigliato per il meglio?, I've always given you good advice, haven't I?

◆ s.m.: senza forse, certainly (o no doubt); essere in forse, to be in doubt (o to hang in the balance) // non mi ha assicurato di venire, ha lasciato tutto in forse, he wouldn't tell me whether he was coming or not // mettere in forse qlco., to cast doubt on sthg.; mettere in forse la propria vita, to risk one's life.

* * *
['forse]
1. avv

1) perhaps, maybe

forse verrà più tardi — he may o might come later

forse hai ragione — maybe you're right

forse dovremmo andarcene — maybe we should leave

verrà? - non so. forse — will he come? - I don't know. maybe

2) (circa) about

ti devo forse 10 euro — I must owe you about 10 euros

mancheranno forse 500 euro — we're about 500 euros short

sei forse tu il mio padrone? — so you think you own me, do you?

2. sm

essere in forse — (persona) to be undecided, (evento) to be in doubt

mettere in forse la propria vita — to put one's life in danger

* * *
['forse] 1.
avverbio

1) perhaps, maybe, possibly

è coscienzioso, forse perfino troppo — he's conscientious, perhaps too much so

forse potresti aiutarmi — I wonder if you could help me

non so forse leggere? — iron. I can read, you know!

forse ha ragione — maybe she's right, she may be right

è forse la vacanza più bella che abbiamo fatto — it's just about the best holiday we've had

forse (che) sì, forse (che) no — colloq. maybe yes, maybe no

2) (circa) about, some

avrà forse trent'anni — he is about thirty years old

3) (per caso) by chance

ti ho forse offeso? — have I perhaps offended you?

vuoi forse negare che è vero? — can you possibly deny that it is true?

4) (in domande retoriche)

non siamo forse amici? — we are friends, aren't we?
2.
sostantivo maschile invariabile

ci sono troppi forse in questo progetto — there are too many ifs in this project

essere in forse — to be in doubt

mettere qcs. in forse — (in dubbio) to cast o throw doubt on sth.; (in pericolo) to endanger sth

* * *

forse

/'forse/

Forse si rende in inglese per lo più con perhaps o maybe, ma quest'ultimo è d'uso più informale. - Bisogna fare attenzione a non confondere l'avverbio maybe (una parola) con l'uso del modale may, eventualmente seguito dal verbo be, a indicare possibilità: forse hai ragione = maybe you are right; può darsi che tu abbia ragione = you may be right.

I avverbio

1 perhaps, maybe, possibly; è coscienzioso, forse perfino troppo he's conscientious, perhaps too much so; forse potresti aiutarmi I wonder if you could help me; non so forse leggere? iron. I can read, you know! forse ha ragione maybe she's right, she may be right; è forse la vacanza più bella che abbiamo fatto it's just about the best holiday we've had; forse (che) sì, forse (che) no colloq. maybe yes, maybe no

2 (circa) about, some; avrà forse trent'anni he is about thirty years old

3 (per caso) by chance; ti ho forse offeso? have I perhaps offended you? vuoi forse negare che è vero? can you possibly deny that it is true?

4 (in domande retoriche) non siamo forse amici? we are friends, aren't we?

II m.inv.

ci sono troppi forse in questo progetto there are too many ifs in this project; essere in forse to be in doubt; mettere qcs. in forse (in dubbio) to cast o throw doubt on sth.; (in pericolo) to endanger sth.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese > forse
4 deber

m.

duty.

los derechos y los deberes de los ciudadanos citizens' rights and duties

Ella tiene el deber de cuidarla She has the obligation to take care of her

v.

1 to owe.

deber algo a alguien to owe somebody something, to owe something to somebody

¿qué o cuánto le debo? how much is it?

Esa pobre mujer debe desde hace mucho That poor woman owes since long before

Esa mujer debe mil dólares That woman owes one thousand dollars.

2 to have to, to be bound to, to have got to, to must.

Ella debe cuidar de María She has to take care of Mary.

3 to be supposed to.

* * *

deber

► verbo transitivo

1 (estar obligado a algo) to owe

■ debemos respeto a nuestros padres we owe respect to our parents

2 (dinero, cosa) to owe

■ te debo cincuenta euros I owe you fifty euros

► auxiliar

1 (obligación presente) must, have to, have got to

■ debo ir a comprar I must go shopping

■ debes acabar antes de que lleguen you have to finish before they arrive

2 (obligación pasada) should, ought to

■ debía haberlo comprado ayer I should have bought it yesterday

3 (obligación futura) must, have to, have got to

■ deberás tenerlo a las cinco you must have it ready by five o'clock

4 (obligación moral) should, ought to

■ no deberías haberlo hecho you shouldn't have done it

5 deber de (probabilidad) must; (negativa) can't

■ deben de ser las seis it must be six o'clock

■ debes de haberlo oído you must have heard it

■ no sé cuántas veces he debido de decírtelo I don't know how many times I must have told you

■ no deben de haber llegado they can't have arrived

► verbo pronominal deberse

1 (ser consecuencia) to be due (a, to)

■ esto se debe a su falta de interés this is due to his lack of interest

2 (tener una obligación) to have a duty (a, to)

■ un soldado se debe a su patria a soldier has a duty to his country

► nombre masculino deber

1 (obligación) duty, obligation

► nombre masculino plural deberes

1 (escolares) homework sing

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

cumplir con su deber to do one's duty

hacer los deberes to do one's homework

* * *
1. noun m.
duty
2. verb
1) must

2) ought to, should

3) to owe

* * *

1.

VT [+ dinero, explicación, respeto] to owe

me debes cinco dólares — you owe me five dollars

¿qué le debo? — [en bares, tiendas] how much (is it)?, how much do I owe you?

me deben muchos favores — they owe me a lot of favours

te debo una disculpa — I owe you an apology

el teatro español debe mucho a Buero Vallejo — Spanish theatre owes a lot to Buero Vallejo

todo lo que he conseguido se lo debo a mi padre — I have my father to thank for everything I have achieved, I owe everything I have achieved to my father

2. VI

1) + infin
[obligación]
debo intentar verla — I must try to see her

no debes preocuparte — you mustn't worry

no debes comer tanto — you shouldn't eat so much

como debe ser — as it ought to o should be

debería cambiarse cada mes — it ought to o should be changed every month

habrías debido traerlo — you ought to have o should have brought it

no deberías haberla dejado sola — you shouldn't have left her alone

debíamos haber salido ayer — we were to have o should have left yesterday

2) + infin
[suposición]
debe (de) ser brasileño — he must be a Brazilian

debe (de) hacer mucho frío allí — it must be very cold there

debe (de) ser así — it must be like that, that's how it must be

he debido (de) perderlo — I must have lost it

no debe (de) ser muy caro — it can't be very dear

no debe (de) tener mucho dinero — he can't have much money

no debía (de) tener más de dieciocho años — she couldn't have been more than eighteen

no debía (de) andar lejos de los 200.000 libros — it can't have been far off 200,000 books

no debía (de) quedar ninguno vivo — it is unlikely that any survived

3.

See:

deberse

* * *
I 1.
verbo transitivo

a) < dinero> to owe

exigen el pago de lo que se les debe — they're demanding to be paid what is owing to them

¿cuánto se debe? — how much do I/we owe you?

te debo las entradas de ayer — I owe you for the tickets from yesterday

b) <favor/visita/explicación> to owe

España le debe mucho al Islam — Spain owes a great debt to Islam

esta victoria se la debo a mi entrenador — I have to thank my coach for this victory
2.
deber v aux

1) ( expresando obligación)

deber + inf: debes decírselo you have to o you must tell her; deberías or debías habérselo dicho you ought to have o you should have told her; la trató respetuosamente, como debe ser he treated her with respect, as he should; no debes usarlo you are not to o you must not use it; no se debe mentir you mustn't tell lies; no deberías haberlo dejado solo — you shouldn't have left him alone

2) (expresando suposición, probabilidad)

a)

deber (de) + inf: deben (de) ser más de las cinco it must be after five o'clock; deben (de) haber salido they must have gone out; debe (de) estar ganando mucho — she/he must be earning a lot

b) ( en frases negativas)

no deben (de) saber la dirección — they probably don't know the address

no les debe (de) haber interesado — they can't have been interested
3.
deberse v pron

1) ( tener su causa en)

deberse a algo: se debió a un fallo humano it was caused by o was due to human error; todo se debe a que no estudia it's all due o down to the fact that she doesn't study; ¿a qué se debe este escándalo? — what's all this racket about?

2) persona ( tener obligaciones hacia)

deberse a alguien — to have a duty to somebody

el artista se debe a su público — an artist has a duty to his/her public
II
masculino

1) ( obligación) duty

cumplió con su deber — he carried out o did his duty

faltó a su deber — he failed in his duty

siento que es un deber de conciencia ayudarlos — I feel morally bound to help them

2) deberes masculino plural ( tarea escolar) homework, assignment (AmE)

¿has hecho los deberes? — have you done your homework?

* * *
I 1.
verbo transitivo

a) < dinero> to owe

exigen el pago de lo que se les debe — they're demanding to be paid what is owing to them

¿cuánto se debe? — how much do I/we owe you?

te debo las entradas de ayer — I owe you for the tickets from yesterday

b) <favor/visita/explicación> to owe

España le debe mucho al Islam — Spain owes a great debt to Islam

esta victoria se la debo a mi entrenador — I have to thank my coach for this victory
2.
deber v aux

1) ( expresando obligación)

deber + inf: debes decírselo you have to o you must tell her; deberías or debías habérselo dicho you ought to have o you should have told her; la trató respetuosamente, como debe ser he treated her with respect, as he should; no debes usarlo you are not to o you must not use it; no se debe mentir you mustn't tell lies; no deberías haberlo dejado solo — you shouldn't have left him alone

2) (expresando suposición, probabilidad)

a)

deber (de) + inf: deben (de) ser más de las cinco it must be after five o'clock; deben (de) haber salido they must have gone out; debe (de) estar ganando mucho — she/he must be earning a lot

b) ( en frases negativas)

no deben (de) saber la dirección — they probably don't know the address

no les debe (de) haber interesado — they can't have been interested
3.
deberse v pron

1) ( tener su causa en)

deberse a algo: se debió a un fallo humano it was caused by o was due to human error; todo se debe a que no estudia it's all due o down to the fact that she doesn't study; ¿a qué se debe este escándalo? — what's all this racket about?

2) persona ( tener obligaciones hacia)

deberse a alguien — to have a duty to somebody

el artista se debe a su público — an artist has a duty to his/her public
II
masculino

1) ( obligación) duty

cumplió con su deber — he carried out o did his duty

faltó a su deber — he failed in his duty

siento que es un deber de conciencia ayudarlos — I feel morally bound to help them

2) deberes masculino plural ( tarea escolar) homework, assignment (AmE)

¿has hecho los deberes? — have you done your homework?

* * *

deber¹

¹ = duty [duties, -pl.], obligation.

Ex: Organisations often expect an information officer or librarian to prepare such abstracts as are necessary, in addition to performing various other information duties.

Ex: At the same time, the Library acknowledges its obligation to cooperate with major abstracting and indexing services to build a comprehensive national bibliographic data base.

* consciente de los deberes de Uno = dutiful.

* cumplir (con) un deber = discharge + duty.

* deber ciudadano = civic duty.

* deber cumplido = duty accomplished.

* deberes = homework, school tasks, homework assignment, school work [schoolwork], class assignment, course assignment, student assignment.

* deber familiar = familial duty.

* deber moral = moral duty.

* deber profesional = professional duty.

* hacer el deber de Uno = do + Posesivo + part.

* hacer los deberes = do + homework.

* incumplimiento del deber = neglect of duty, breach of duty.

* más allá del deber = beyond the call of duty.

* negligencia en el cumplimiento del deber = dereliction of duty.

* no hacer los deberes = be asleep at the wheel.

* sentido del deber = sense of duty.

* tener el deber de = have + a responsibility to.

* tener un deber que cumplir con = have + a responsibility to.

deber²

² = must, ought to, owe.

Ex: Even the same collection some years on will have altered, and the device, in order to remain effective, must evolve in keeping with the development of the collection.

Ex: Early in its discussions the Working Group concluded that the implementation of an international authority system ought to follow a phased approach.

Ex: DOBIS/LIBIS can then tell which borrowers owe the library money.

* debe por lo tanto deducirse que = it must therefore follow that.

* debe por lo tanto esperarse que = it must therefore follow that.

* debe por lo tanto ser lógico que = it must therefore follow that.

* debe por lo tanto ser una consecuencia lógica que = it must therefore follow that.

* deber haber ocurrido antes = be long overdue.

* debería existir = there + ought to be.

* debería haber = there + ought to be.

* debería(n) = should.

* deber pagarse = be payable.

* deber pensarse = thought + must be given.

* deber prestar atención = warrant + consideration.

* deberse = be due.

* deberse a = be due to, be caused by, be attributable to, boil down to.

* deber una multa = owe + fine.

* deber + Verbo = be + to be + Verbo.

* debe ser + Participio = be to be + Participio.

* estar haciendo algo que no se debe = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* mérito + deberse a = credit + be due to, credit + go to, be to the credit of.

* multa que se debe = unpaid fine.

* no actuar como se debe = be remiss.

* no cumplir con + Posesivo + deber = be remiss.

* no deber nada = pay + Posesivo + dues.

* no debes juzgar un libro por el color de sus pastas = don't judge a book by its cover, don't judge a book by its cover.

* * *

deber¹ [E1 ] [ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

vt

1 ‹dinero› to owe

le deben 15.000 pesos/dos meses de sueldo they owe her 15,000 pesos/two months' salary

quieren que les paguen lo que se les debe they want to be paid what they are due o what is owing to them

no le debo nada a nadie I don't owe anything to anyone

¿cuánto or ( fam) qué se debe? how much o what do I/we owe you?

te debo las entradas de ayer I owe you for the tickets from yesterday

2 ‹favor/visita/explicación› to owe

le debo la vida I owe her my life

todavía le debo el regalo de cumpleaños I still owe him o haven't given him a birthday present

me debe carta ella a mí she owes me a letter, it's her turn to write to me

les debes respeto y obediencia you owe them respect and obedience

España le debe mucho al Islam Spain owes a great debt to Islam

esta victoria se la debo a mi entrenador I have my coach to thank for this victory

¿a qué debo este honor? to what do I owe this honor?

■

v aux

A (expresando obligación) deber + INF:

debes decírselo you have to o you must tell her

deberías or debías habérselo dicho you ought to have o you should have told her

deberás decírselo you will have to tell her

debería or debiera darte vergüenza you ought to be o you should be ashamed of yourself

la trató cortés y respetuosamente, como debe ser he treated her with courtesy and respect, as he should

no debes usarlo sin antes pedir permiso you are not to o you must not use it without asking first

no se debe mentir you mustn't tell lies

no deberías or debías haberlo dejado solo or no debiste dejarlo solo you shouldn't have left him alone

B (expresando suposición, probabilidad)

1 deber ( DE) + INF:

ya deben (de) ser más de las cinco it must be after five o'clock

¡debes (de) estar muriéndote de hambre! you must be starving!

deben (de) haber salido they must have gone out

nos hemos debido (de) cruzar we must have passed each other

debe (de) estar ganando mucho más que eso she must be earning a lot more than that

le debe (de) doler mucho it must be very painful

ésos debieron (de) ser or deben (de) haber sido momentos muy duros that must have been a very difficult time

has debido (de) perderlo or debes (de) haberlo perdido you must have lost it

2

(en frases negativas): no deben (de) saber del accidente, si no habrían vuelto they can't know about the accident or they would have come back

¿por qué no ha llamado? — no debe (de) haber podido why hasn't he phoned? — he obviously hasn't been able to

la conferencia fue en francés, no deben (de) haber entendido nada the lecture was in French, I bet they didn't understand a word o they can't have understood a word

no les debe haber interesado or no les debió interesar they can't have been interested o presumably, they weren't interested

■ deberse

v pron

A (tener su causa en) deberse A algo:

el retraso se debe al mal tiempo the delay is due to the bad weather

el accidente se debió a un fallo humano the accident was caused by o was due to human error

¿a qué se debe este escándalo? what's all this racket about?

¿a qué se debe tan agradable sorpresa? to what do I owe such a pleasant surprise?

B «persona» (tener obligaciones hacia) deberse A algn; to have a duty TO sb

el artista se debe a su público an artist has a duty to his or her public

me debo antes que nada a mis pacientes my first responsibility o duty is to my patients

me debo a mis electores I have a duty to the people who voted for me

deber²

masculine

A (obligación) duty

cumplió con su deber he carried out o did his duty

faltó a su deber he failed in his duty, he failed to do his duty

el deber del soldado para con su patria a soldier's duty to his country

votar es un derecho y un deber del cuidadano voting is the right and duty of every citizen

tengo el triste deber de comunicarles el fallecimiento de … ( frml); it is my sad duty to inform you of the death of …

es un deber de conciencia ayudarlos I feel morally bound to help them

B deberes mpl (tarea escolar) homework, assignment ( AmE)

¿has hecho los deberes? have you done your homework?

nos ponen or mandan muchos deberes they set us a lot of homework

* * *

deber 1 ( conjugate deber) verbo transitivo ‹dinero/favor/explicación› to owe;
◊ te debo las entradas de ayer I owe you for the tickets from yesterday

deber v aux
1 ( expresando obligación):
◊ debemos trabajar más we must work harder;

no debes usarlo you must not use it;
deberías or debías habérselo dicho you ought to have o you should have told her;
no se debe mentir you mustn't tell lies;
no deberías haberlo dejado solo you shouldn't have left him alone
2 (expresando suposición, probabilidad):
◊ deben (de) ser más de las cinco it must be after five o'clock;

deben (de) haber salido they must have gone out;
debe (de) estar enamorado she/he must be in love;
no deben (de) saber la dirección they probably don't know the address;
no les debe (de) interesar they can't be interested
deberse verbo pronominal
1 ( tener su causa en) deberse a algo to be due to sth;
◊ se debe a que no estudia it's due to the fact that she doesn't study;

¿a qué se debe este escándalo? what's all this racket about?
2 [ persona] ( tener obligaciones hacia) deberse a algn to have a duty to sb
deber 2 sustantivo masculino
1 ( obligación) duty;
◊ cumplió con su deber he carried out o did his duty

2
◊ deberes sustantivo masculino plural ( tarea escolar) homework, assignment (AmE)

deber 1 sustantivo masculino
I duty: deberá cumplir con su deber, she must do her duty
II Educ deberes, homework sing
deber 2
I verbo transitivo
1 (tener una deuda) to owe: me debe una disculpa, he owes me an apology
le debe mucho a su entrenador, he owes a lot to his trainer
2 (+ infinitivo: estar obligado a) must, to have to: debe tomar el medicamento, he must take the medicine
debía hacerlo, I had to do it
ya debería estar aquí, he ought to be here‚ ¡debería darte vergüenza!, you should be ashamed of yourself! o shame on you! ➣ Ver nota en must 3 (para dar un consejo) should: deberías estar presente, you should be present
II verbo intransitivo ( deber + de + infinitivo: ser posible) (positivo) must: debe de haberlo oído en alguna parte, he must have heard it from somewhere
(negativo) can not: debe de estar dormido, he must be asleep
todavía no deben de haber llegado, they can't have arrived yet
' deber' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
carga
- hacer
- imponerse
- incumplir
- incumplimiento
- obligación
- alto
- ciudadano
- cometido
- cumplimiento
- cumplir
- inexcusable
- ir
- satisfacción
- sentido
English:
accomplishment
- avoid
- before
- carry out
- civic
- discharge
- do
- duck
- duty
- immune
- job
- meet
- must
- need
- neglect
- ought
- owe
- service
- should
- suppose
- want
- bound
- call
- well

* * *

deber

♦ nm
[obligación] duty;
mi deber es ayudar it is my duty to help;

es mi deber intentar detenerle it is my duty to try to stop him;

cumplir con el deber to do one's duty;

faltarás a tu deber si no acudes a la reunión you will be failing in your duty if you don't come to the meeting;

los derechos y los deberes de los ciudadanos citizens' rights and duties;

mantener la ciudad limpia es deber de todos keeping the city tidy is everyone's responsibility;

tiene un gran sentido del deber she has a great sense of duty;

tengo el triste deber de comunicarles la aparición del cuerpo de su hijo it is my sad duty to inform you that your son's body has been found

♦ deberes nmpl
[trabajo escolar] homework;
hacer los deberes to do one's homework;

nos han mandado muchos deberes para el fin de semana they've set o given us a lot of homework for the weekend

♦ vt

1. [adeudar] to owe;

deber algo a alguien to owe sb sth, to owe sth to sb;

¿qué o [m5] cuánto le debo? how much is it?, how much does it come to?;

¿qué se debe? how much is it?, how much does it come to?;

¿qué te debo del pan y la leche? what do I owe you for the bread and milk?;

me deben medio millón de pesos they owe me half a million pesos;

me debes una cena you owe me a meal out

2. [moralmente] to owe;

te debo la vida I owe you my life;

este éxito se lo debo a mis compañeros I owe this success to my colleagues, I have my colleagues to thank for this success;

creo que te debo una explicación I think I owe you an explanation;

debemos mucho a nuestros padres we owe our parents a lot;

no le debo nada a nadie I don't owe anybody anything;
Formal
¿a qué debemos el honor de su visita? to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?;

Comp
Fam
deber una a alguien to owe sb one;

te debo una, compañero I owe you one, mate

♦ vi

1. (antes de infinitivo) [expresa obligación]
debo hacerlo I have to do it, I must do it;

deberían abolir esa ley they ought to o should abolish that law;

debes dominar tus impulsos you must o should control your impulses;

debería darles vergüenza they ought to be ashamed;

no deberías fumar tanto you shouldn't smoke so much;

no debes decir mentiras you mustn't o shouldn't tell lies;

no debiste insultarle you shouldn't have insulted her;
Fam
una película como debe ser a proper film, a film like films were meant to be

2. [expresa posibilidad]
el tren debe de llegar alrededor de las diez the train should arrive at about ten;

deben de haber llegado ya a casa they must o should be home by now;

deben de ser las diez it must be ten o'clock;

no debe de ser muy mayor she can't be very old;

no debe de hacer mucho frío it can't be very o that cold;

debe de ser extranjero he must be a foreigner;

debes de estar cayéndote de sueño you must be exhausted;

debo haberlo dejado en casa I must have left it at home

♦ See also the pronominal verb deberse

* * *

deber

I m

1 duty

2

:

deberes pl homework sg

II v/t owe;

deber a alguien 500 pesos owe s.o. 500 pesos

III v/i

1 en presente must, have to;

debo llegar a la hora I must be on time, I have to be on time;

no debo llegar tarde I mustn’t be late

2 en pretérito should have;

debería haberme callado I should have kept quiet

3 en futuro will have to;

deberán terminar imediatamente they must finish o they will have to finish immediately

4 en condicional should;

¿qué debería hacer? what should I do?;

no deberías hacer eso you shouldn’t do that;

debería ser lo suficientemente largo that should be long enough

5 como suposición

:

debe de hacer frío it must be cold;

debe de tener quince años he must be about 15;

debe de hacer poco que viven aquí they can’t have lived here for long;

ya deben de haber llegado they must o should have arrived by now

* * *

deber vt

: to owe

deber v aux

1) : must, have to

debo ir a la oficina: I must go to the office

2) : should, ought to

deberías buscar trabajo: you ought to look for work

3) (expressing probability) : must

debe ser mexicano: he must be Mexican

♦ See also the reflexive verb deberse

* * *

deber¹ n duty [pl. duties]

es un deber del ciudadano pagar los impuestos it is every citizen's duty to pay taxes

cumplir con un deber to do your duty

deber² vb

1. (dinero, favor, etc) to owe

te debo 1.000 pesetas I owe you 1,000 pesetas

me debes un favor you owe me a favour

2. (estar obligado en presente) must / to have to

debemos respetar a los demás we must respect other people

3. (estar obligado en condicional) should / ought to

deberías ser menos impulsivo you should be less impulsive

deber de must

debe de haber aprobado porque está muy contento he must have passed because he's very happy

Spanish-English dictionary > deber
5 el

art.

the (in general).

el coche the car

la casa the house

los niños the children

el agua/hacha/águila the water/ax/eagle

fui a recoger a los niños I went to pick up the children

* * *

el

► determinante

1 the

■ el coche the car

■ el agua water

■ el Japón Japan

■ la Sra. Rodríguez Mrs. Rodríguez

■ llegó el martes he arrived on Tuesday

2 el de the one

■ el del traje azul the one in the blue suit

■ el de Valencia the one from Valencia

■ el de tu hermano your brother's

■ el de hoy today's

3 el que (persona - sujeto) the one who; (- objeto) the one, the one that, the one whom

■ el que vino ayer the one who came yesterday

■ el que vi the one I saw

4 (cosa) the one, the one that, the one which

■ el que me diste the one (that) you gave me

* * *
1. pron.
the one

- el que
2. art.
the

* * *

el; la; los; las
ART DEF
1) [con nombres de referente único o concreto] the

el sol — the sun

perdí el autobús — I missed the bus

¿está fría el agua? — is the water cold?

¿ha llegado ya el abogado? — has the lawyer arrived yet?

el tío ese — * that chap

2) [en algunos casos no se traduce]

a) [con nombres propios]

La India — India

en el México de hoy — in present-day Mexico

el Real Madrid ganó la liga — Real Madrid won the league

el General Prim — General Prim

¿qué manda la señora? — what would madam like?

ha llamado el Sr. Sendra — Mr. Sendra called

dáselo a la Luisa — * give it to Luisa

b) [con nombres en sentido genérico]

me gusta el baloncesto — I like basketball

no me gusta el pescado — I don't like fish

está en la cárcel — he's in jail

c) [con infinitivo]

el hacerlo fue un error — doing it was a mistake, it was a mistake to do it

d) [con cifras, proporciones]

la mitad de la población — half of the population

ahora gano el 3% más — I now earn 3% more

3) [traducido por el posesivo]

se lavó las manos — he washed his hands

me he cortado el pelo — I've had my hair cut

ayer me lavé la cabeza — I washed my hair yesterday

me puse el abrigo — I put my coat on

4) [con expresiones temporales]

a las ocho — at eight o'clock

a los quince días — after a fortnight

vendrá el lunes que viene — he's coming next Monday

la reunión será el 15 de abril — the meeting's on 15 April

en el mes de julio — in (the month of) July

5) (=uso distributivo)

cuesta dos euros el kilo — it costs two euros a kilo

6) [en exclamaciones]

¡el frío que hacía! — it was freezing!

7) [posesivo]

• el de, mi libro y el de usted — my book and yours

este jugador y el de la camisa azul — this player and the one in the blue shirt

el del sombrero rojo — the one with o in the red hat

es un traje bonito, pero prefiero el de Ana — it's a nice suit, but I prefer Ana's

y el de todos los demás — and that of everybody else, and everybody else's

el idiota de Pedro no me contestó al teléfono — that idiot Pedro didn't answer the phone

8)

• el que —

a) + indic

el que compramos no vale — the one we bought is no good

a los que mencionamos añádase este — add this one to the ones we mentioned

yo fui el que lo encontró — I was the one who found it

él es el que quiere — it's he who wants to, he's the one who wants to

los que hacen eso son tontos — anyone who does that is a fool, those who do so are foolish

b) + subjun whoever

el que quiera, que lo haga — whoever wants to can do it

* * *

(pl los), la (pl las) articulo

[the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or ha, e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina]

1)

a) ( con un referente único) the

el sol — the sun

la Tierra — the Earth

b) ( con sustantivos en sentido genérico)

odio el pescado — I hate fish

así es la vida — that's life

(nosotros) los mexicanos — we Mexicans

¿ya vas a la escuela? — do you go to school yet?

en el mar — at sea

c) ( con un referente conocido o que se define)

en la calle Solis — in Solis street

el mío/las tuyas — mine/yours

el rojo/último — the red/last one

el estúpido del marido — that stupid husband of hers

los nacidos entre... — those born between...

2)

a)

el + de...: la del sombrero the one with the hat; el de Valencia the one from Valencia; el de las nueve the nine o'clock one; el de Juan/de mi hijo — Juan's/my son's

b)

el + que...: el que acaba de entrar the one who's just come in; las que yo ví the ones I saw; los que estén cansados; those who are tired, anyone who's tired; la que te guste whichever you like; el que lo haya hecho — whoever has done it

3) ( en expresiones de tiempo)

ocurrió el domingo — it happened last Sunday

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo — my birthday's on May 28

el mes pasado/que viene — last/next month

no trabajo los sábados — I don't work (on) Saturdays

toda la mañana — all morning

a las ocho — at eight o'clock

4) ( cada)

$80 el metro/kilo — $80 a meter/a kilo

5) (con fracciones, porcentajes, números)

la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero — half the money/a quarter of the money

el 20% de... — 20% of...

el cuarto piso — the fifth floor (AmE) o (BrE) fourth floor

6) (refiriéndose a partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc)

tenía las manos en los bolsillos — she had her hands in her pockets

te cortaste el pelo! — you've had your hair cut!

tienes la falda sucia — your skirt is dirty

tiene los ojos azules — he has blue eyes

7) ( con nombres propios)

a) (con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc)

el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal — Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal

b) ( en plural)

los Ortega — the Ortegas

c) ( con algunos nombres geográficos)

en la India — in India

en (el) Perú — in Peru; ver África, Argentina, etc

d) ( al calificar)

la España de Franco — Franco's Spain

el Buñuel que todos conocemos — the Buñuel we all know

e) ( con algunos equipos deportivos)

juegan contra el Juventus — they're playing against Juventus

8) el ( con infinitivo)

odiaba el tener que pedírselo — he hated having to ask her

es cuidadoso en el hablar — he's careful in the way he speaks

el frenético girar de los bailarines — the frenzied spinning of the dancers

* * *

(pl los), la (pl las) articulo

[the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or ha, e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina]

1)

a) ( con un referente único) the

el sol — the sun

la Tierra — the Earth

b) ( con sustantivos en sentido genérico)

odio el pescado — I hate fish

así es la vida — that's life

(nosotros) los mexicanos — we Mexicans

¿ya vas a la escuela? — do you go to school yet?

en el mar — at sea

c) ( con un referente conocido o que se define)

en la calle Solis — in Solis street

el mío/las tuyas — mine/yours

el rojo/último — the red/last one

el estúpido del marido — that stupid husband of hers

los nacidos entre... — those born between...

2)

a)

el + de...: la del sombrero the one with the hat; el de Valencia the one from Valencia; el de las nueve the nine o'clock one; el de Juan/de mi hijo — Juan's/my son's

b)

el + que...: el que acaba de entrar the one who's just come in; las que yo ví the ones I saw; los que estén cansados; those who are tired, anyone who's tired; la que te guste whichever you like; el que lo haya hecho — whoever has done it

3) ( en expresiones de tiempo)

ocurrió el domingo — it happened last Sunday

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo — my birthday's on May 28

el mes pasado/que viene — last/next month

no trabajo los sábados — I don't work (on) Saturdays

toda la mañana — all morning

a las ocho — at eight o'clock

4) ( cada)

$80 el metro/kilo — $80 a meter/a kilo

5) (con fracciones, porcentajes, números)

la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero — half the money/a quarter of the money

el 20% de... — 20% of...

el cuarto piso — the fifth floor (AmE) o (BrE) fourth floor

6) (refiriéndose a partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc)

tenía las manos en los bolsillos — she had her hands in her pockets

te cortaste el pelo! — you've had your hair cut!

tienes la falda sucia — your skirt is dirty

tiene los ojos azules — he has blue eyes

7) ( con nombres propios)

a) (con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc)

el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal — Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal

b) ( en plural)

los Ortega — the Ortegas

c) ( con algunos nombres geográficos)

en la India — in India

en (el) Perú — in Peru; ver África, Argentina, etc

d) ( al calificar)

la España de Franco — Franco's Spain

el Buñuel que todos conocemos — the Buñuel we all know

e) ( con algunos equipos deportivos)

juegan contra el Juventus — they're playing against Juventus

8) el ( con infinitivo)

odiaba el tener que pedírselo — he hated having to ask her

es cuidadoso en el hablar — he's careful in the way he speaks

el frenético girar de los bailarines — the frenzied spinning of the dancers

* * *

el²

= the, ye.

Nota: Forma arcaica.

Ex: The first institute, 'The Catalog: Its Nature and Prospects,' was held in New York City on October 9 and 10, 1975.

Ex: The article 'Ye olde smart card' presents an annotated list of information sources on the credit card industry.

* a lo extremo = to the extreme.

* aunque no lo creas = believe it or not.

* barrio de los ricos = upper town.

* de los mejores = as good as any.

* el abuelo de = the granddaddy of.

* el acabose = the last straw.

* el alcance = comprehensiveness.

* el amor de + Posesivo + vida = the love of + Posesivo + life.

* el año próximo = the year ahead.

* el arte de = the art of, the fine art of.

* el ataque es la mejor defensa = attack is the best form of defence.

* el auténtico = the real McCoy.

* el beneficio de la duda = the benefit of the doubt.

* el bien de = the good of.

* el buenazo de + Nombre = good old + Nombre.

* el bueno de + Nombre = good old + Nombre.

* el camino a seguir = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino correcto = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está lleno de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está plagado de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino por recorrer = the way ahead.

* el camino que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* el camino recorrido = the road travelled so far.

* el camino se hace andando = actions speak louder than words.

* el centro de atención + ser = all eyes + be + on.

* el charco = the big pond.

* el ciudadano de a pie = the average Joe.

* el ciudadano medio = the average Joe.

* el cliente siempre tiene la razón = the customer is always right.

* el colmo = the last straw.

* el consejo de otra persona = a second opinion.

* el copón = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* el corazón de = the heart of.

* el crecimiento de = the rising tide of.

* el cual = which.

* el de = that in, that of.

* el diablo está en los detalles = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* el día del Juicio Final = the Day of Judgement.

* El Diluvio = the Flood.

* el dinero es el origen de todos los males = money is the root of all evil.

* el dinero es la fuente de todos los males = money is the root of all evil.

* el dinero mueve al mundo = money makes the world go (a)round.

* el dinero no crece en los árboles = money doesn't grow on trees.

* el doble = twice + as many.

* el doble de = twice + the number of.

* El Dorado = El Dorado.

* el enemigo en casa = the enemy within.

* el entonces + Nombre = the then + Nombre.

* el espíritu de la época = the spirit of the times.

* el estado de las cosas = the lay of the land [the lie of the land, -UK].

* el evitar = avoidance.

* el éxito genera éxito = success breeds success (SBS).

* el éxito llama al éxito = success breeds success (SBS).

* el final de = the close of.

* el final de los problemas = the light at the end of the tunnel.

* el fin del mundo = the ends of the earth.

* el fin de semana = over the weekend, at the weekend.

* el fin de todos los fines = the end of all ends.

* el fin justifica los medios = the end justifies the means.

* el fruto de + Nombre = the fruit of + Nombre.

* el futuro = the way ahead, the way of the future.

* el futuro + estar + justo a la vuelta de la esquina = the future + be + just around the corner.

* el Gato con Botas = Puss in Boots.

* el grado de = the extent of.

* el grado de + Nombre = the breadth and depth of + Nombre.

* el grado en que = the extent to which.

* el gran hermano = big brother.

* el guapo de + Nombre = good old + Nombre.

* el hecho es que = fact is, the fact is (that).

* el hecho es que... = the fact of the matter is that....

* el hombre de la calle = the average Joe.

* el hombre no es una isla = no man is an island.

* el hombre propone y Dios dispone = Man proposes, God disposes.

* el impulsor de = the power behind.

* el interés público = the public interest.

* El Juicio Final = The Last Judgement.

* el lastre de = the shackles of.

* el llevar = carrying.

* el lugar que le corresponde a = the due place of.

* El Mago de Oz = The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz.

* el más = all-time.

* el más + Adjetivo = the most + Adjetivo.

* el más allá = hereafter.

* el más bajo = rock-bottom.

* el más favorito del mes = pick of the month.

* el más leído = the most widely read.

* el más recomendado = best of breed, the.

* el Mediterráneo = Mediterranean Sea, the, the Med.

* el mejor = best of breed, the.

* el mejor de todos = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* el mejor hasta ahora = the best yet.

* el mejor modo de = the best way of.

* el mejor momento de todos = the time of all times.

* el mejor + Nombre = the best available + Nombre.

* el mejor que ha hecho hasta ahora = Posesivo + best yet.

* el mentir = lying.

* el mes pasado = last month.

* el mío = mine.

* el mismo + Nombre (+ que) = every bit as much + Nombre (+ as).

* el mismo número = as many.

* el modo como = the way in which.

* el modo de = the way in which.

* el modo de + Infinitivo = the way to go about + Gerundio.

* el momento preciso = the point in time at which.

* el motor de = the power behind.

* el movimiento se demuestra andando = actions speak louder than words.

* el muerto al hoyo y el vivo al bollo = dead men have no friends.

* el mundo de las noticias = newsmaking.

* el mundo en la palma de la mano = the world in the palm of + Posesivo + hand.

* el mundo está a sus pies = the world is + Posesivo + oyster.

* el mundo es un pañuelo = it's a small world.

* el + Nombre + correcto al + Nombre + adecuado en el momento oportuno = the right + Nombre + to the right + Nombre + at the right time.

* el + Nombre + es inestimable = the + Nombre + cannot be overestimated.

* el + Nombre + más completo = the + Nombre + to end all + Nombre.

* el no va más = the be all and end all, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* el nuevo aspecto de = the changing face of, the changing nature of.

* el orgullo de = showpiece.

* el otro lado de la barrera = the other side of the fence.

* el padre de = the father of.

* el pan nuestro de cada día = all in a day's work.

* el paso del tiempo = the passage of time, the sands of time.

* el peor de todos = the worst of the lot.

* el perro es el mejor amigo del hombre = a dog is man's best friend.

* el peso de = brunt of, the.

* el populacho = the great unwashed.

* el porqué de = the reason behind, the thinking behind, the reasoning behind, the idea behind.

* el portavoz de = the voice of.

* el presente = thisness.

* el primer intento = the first time around.

* el primer + Nombre = the earliest + Nombre.

* el primero mencionado = former.

* el principal = the number one.

* el principio de = the dawn of.

* el principio del fin = the beginning of the end.

* el principio de + Mes/Estación = early + Mes/Estación.

* el problema no es el qué, sino el cómo = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* el problema obvio = the elephant in the room.

* el proletariado = the great unwashed.

* el pulmón de = the heart of.

* el punto más bajo = rock-bottom.

* el que = that, the one.

* el que aprende = learner.

* el que las hace, las paga = you've made your bed, now you must lie in it!.

* el que lo encuentre se lo queda = finders keepers.

* el que mantiene a la familia = breadwinner [bread winner].

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* el que no llora, no mama = the squeaky (squeaking) wheel gets the grease (the oil/oiled).

* el que no se aventura no cruza el mar = nothing ventured, nothing gained.

* el que pregunta = inquirer [enquirer, -UK].

* el quid de la cuestión = the crux of the problem, the crux of the matter.

* el registro de los registros = record-of-record.

* el registro modelo = record-of-record.

* el resto = rest, the.

* el resto (de) = the remainder (of), the rest (of).

* El Salvador = El Salvador.

* el segundo mencionado = latter.

* el sendero que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* el ser barato = cheapness.

* el siguiente no, el otro = next but one.

* el sitio adecuado en el momento adecuado = the right place at the right time.

* el sueño de toda persona = the stuff dreams are made of.

* el sueño de todos = the stuff dreams are made of.

* el sueño de todo ser viviente = the stuff dreams are made of.

* el súmmum = the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* el tamaño de = the extent of.

* el tema de la discusión = the focus of the discussion.

* el tema del debate = the focus of the discussion.

* el tiempo de Algo = in season.

* el tiempo es oro = time is money.

* el tiempo lo dirá = only time will tell.

* el tiempo vuela = time flies (by).

* el tipo de = the range of.

* el todo es más grande que la suma de sus partes = the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

* el total de = the total sum of, the sum total of.

* el transcurrir del tiempo = the sands of time.

* el transcurso del tiempo = as time goes by.

* el último citado = latter.

* el último grito = the last word, the cat's meow, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* el último + Nombre = the latest + Nombre.

* el último pero no el menos importante = the last but by no means least.

* el único = the one and only.

* el único e incomparable = the one and only.

* el único e inimitable = the one and only.

* el único problema = a fly in the soup, the fly in the ointment.

* el verdadero = the real McCoy.

* el verdadero problema = the elephant in the room.

* el ver televisión = television viewing.

* el viejo = the elder.

* el vulgo = the great unwashed.

* el yugo de = the shackles of.

* espicharlas = kick + the bucket.

* la = the, ye.

* la alternativa + ser = the alternative + be.

* la belleza es superficial = beauty is only skin deep.

* La Biblioteca Responde = Ask the Library.

* la Biblioteca y el Archivo de Canadá = Library and Archives Canada.

* la buena noticia = the good news.

* la calidad es nuestro lema = quality is our middle name.

* la calma que precede a la tormenta = the lull before the storm.

* la cambiante fisonomía de = the changing face of, the changing nature of.

* la caridad empieza por uno mismo = charity begins at home.

* la ciudadana de a pie = the average Jane.

* la ciudadana media = the average Jane.

* la ciudad que nunca duerme = the city that never sleeps.

* la clave de = at the heart of.

* la clave está en la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* la comunidad en general = the community at large.

* la Convención de la Haya de 1954 = the 1954 Hague Convention.

* la copa del árbol = the top of the tree.

* la cosa es que = the thing is.

* la cosa principal = the number one thing.

* la crème de la crème = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* la cruz de = the bane of.

* la cuestión es que = the thing is.

* la década de los + Número = the + Número + s.

* la demanda de = a call for.

* la diversidad de = the range of.

* la diversidad de + Nombre = the many + Nombre.

* la edad se lleva en el alma = you are as old as you feel.

* la época de Algo = in season.

* la escoria de la sociedad = the gutter.

* la espalda de = the back of.

* la evidencia = the writing on the wall.

* la fe mueve montañas = faith will move mountains.

* la filosofía de = the reason behind, the reasoning behind.

* la flor de + Nombre = the prime of + Nombre.

* la flor y nata = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* la forma correcta de hacer las cosas = the way to go.

* la forma de = ways and means (of/for/to/in/by).

* la forma de + Infinitivo = the way to go about + Gerundio.

* la forma de ver las cosas = the way + to see things.

* la fuerza de la mayoría = strength in numbers.

* la gente decía que = rumour had it that.

* la gente dice que = rumour has it that.

* la gente se está inquietando = the natives are nervous.

* la gente se está poniendo nerviosa = the natives are nervous.

* la gente se puso de pie para aplaudir = standing ovation.

* la gota que colmó el vaso = the straw that broke the camel's back.

* la Gran Manzana = the Big Apple.

* la gran mayoría de = the vast majority of, the bulk of.

* la historia + repetirse = history + come full circle.

* la historia + volverse a repetir = history + come full circle.

* la hostia = the cat's pyjamas, the cat's pyjamas, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* la hoz y el martillo = the hammer and sickle.

* la idea que hay detrás de = the idea behind.

* la imaginación no tiene límites = your imagination is the limit.

* la imitación es la mejor forma de que lo halaguen a uno = imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

* La Isla del Tesoro = Treasure Island.

* la joya de = showpiece.

* la judicatura = the Bench.

* la justicia = the Bench.

* la juventud no es cuestión de edad sino de espíritu = you are as old as you feel.

* la leche = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* la luz al final del túnel = the light at the end of the tunnel.

* la magistratura = the Bench.

* la manera de + Infinitivo = the way to go about + Gerundio.

* la mano que mece la cuna es la mano que domina el mundo = the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

* la mano que mece la cuna gobierna el mundo = the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

* la mar de = a whole slew of.

* la mayoría con mucho de = the vast majority of.

* la mayoría de = the majority of, most + Nombre, the main bulk of.

* la mayoría de la gente = most people, the majority of the people.

* la mayoría de las personas = most people, the majority of the people.

* la mayoría de las veces = most of the time, more often than not.

* la mayoría del mundo = the majority of the world, most people, the majority of the people.

* la mayoría del tiempo = most of the time.

* la mayor parte de = the majority of, the main bulk of, the lion's share of.

* la mayor parte de las veces = more often than not.

* la medida en que = the extent to which.

* la mejor forma de hacer Algo = best practices, lessons learned [lessons learnt].

* la mejor manera = how best.

* la mejor manera de = the best way of.

* la mejor oferta = the best deal.

* la mejor opción = the best bet.

* la mejor salida = the best way forward.

* la mejor solución = the best way forward.

* la menor duda de que = no doubt whatsoever.

* la mentira = lying.

* la mirada en = eye(s) on.

* la misma persona = one and the same person.

* la mitad (1/2) = one-half (1/2).

* la necesidad agudiza el ingenio = necessity mothers invention.

* la ocasión la pintan calva = make + hay while the sun shines.

* la opinión de otra persona = a second opinion.

* la oportunidad de + Posesivo + vida = the opportunity of a lifetime.

* la parte de atrás de = the back of.

* la parte más dura de = brunt of, the.

* la parte más importante = the heart of.

* la parte principal de = the bulk of.

* la parte superior izquierda de = the upper left of.

* la parte trasera de = the back of.

* la personificación de la confianza en uno mismo = confidence personified.

* la pesadilla de = the bane of.

* la pesca del día = the day's catch, the catch of the day.

* la petición de = a call for.

* la píldora = the pill.

* la plebe = the great unwashed.

* la polla = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* la práctica hace al maestro = practice makes perfect.

* la primera tentativa = the first time around.

* la primera vez = the first time around.

* la proporción mayor de = the lion's share of.

* la próxima moda = the next hot thing.

* la puntilla = the final/last nail in + Posesivo + coffin.

* la que = that, the one.

* la razón de ser = the reason for being.

* la realidad es que = the fact remains that..., fact is, the fact is (that).

* la rehostia = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* la responsabilidad ahora recae en + Nombre = the ball is in + Posesivo + court.

* la responsabilidad es de... = the buck + stops....

* la riqueza de = the wealth of.

* la ruina de = the bane of.

* las = the, ye.

* las 24 horas = round the clock, around the clock.

* las apariencias engañan = don't judge a book by its cover, there's more to it than meets the eye.

* las ataduras de = the shackles of.

* las autoridades = the powers-that-be.

* las cosas + cambiar = pendulum + swing.

* las cosas + estar + claras = the (hand)writing + be + on the wall, see it + coming.

* las cosas no pasan así como así = everything happens for a reason (and a purpose).

* las cosas no pasan (así) porque sí = everything happens for a reason (and a purpose).

* las cosas no son tan simples como parecen = there's more to it than meets the eye.

* las cosas + seguir + igual = business + revolve + as usual.

* las cosas siguen igual = business as usual.

* las cosas sólo pasan una vez = lightning never strikes twice.

* las cosas son más complicadas de lo que parecen = there's more to it than meets the eye.

* las cosas tal y como son = the birds and the bees.

* las cosas + volver + a su punto de partida = the wheel + turn + full circle.

* las de = those for.

* las doce del mediodía = noon.

* la segunda mitad de + Fecha = the latter part of + Fecha.

* la segunda opción = the next best choice.

* la segunda vez = the second time around.

* la semana pasada = last week.

* la senda que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* la situación = the course of events.

* la sociedad en general = society at large.

* las posibilidades son infinitas = the possibilities are endless.

* las profundidades del mar = the deep.

* las profundidades del océano = the deep.

* las pruebas = the writing on the wall.

* las raíces se encuentran = roots + lie.

* las raíces se remontan a = roots + lie.

* las razones de = the reason behind, the thinking behind, the reasoning behind, the idea behind.

* las Reglas de Cutter para un Catálogo Diccionario = Cutter's Rules for a Dictionary Catalog.

* las triquiñuelas de la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* la suerte + cambiar = the tide + turn.

* la suerte estaba echada = the die was cast, the die had been cast.

* la suerte está echada = the die is cast.

* la suma total de = the total sum of, the sum total of.

* las uvas están verdes = sour grapes.

* las veinticuatro horas = day and night, day or night, night and day.

* la temporada de Algo = in season.

* la tierra de la abundancia = the land of plenty.

* la tierra de las oportunidades = the land of opportunity.

* la tira de = a whole slew of.

* la tira de tiempo = donkey's years.

* la triste realidad es que = the sad fact is (that).

* la última palabra = the last word, the last word, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* la última vez = last time.

* la última vez que = the last time.

* la única pega = the fly in the ointment, a fly in the soup.

* la unión hace la fuerza = strength in numbers.

* la ventaja de = the beauty of.

* la ventaja es que = on the positive side, the advantage is that, on the bright side.

* la verdad = the lowdown (on).

* la verdad es que = if the truth be known, if the truth be told, the fact is (that), fact is.

* la verdad es que... = the fact of the matter is that....

* la verdad sea dicha = to tell the truth.

* la verdad sea dicha que = if the truth be told.

* la Vía Láctea = the Milky Way.

* la vida continúa = the show must go on.

* la vida + continuar = life + go on.

* la vida es así = life's like that.

* ¡la vida no es un camino de rosas! = the course of true love never did run smooth!.

* la vida + seguir = life + go on.

* la víspera de = on the eve of.

* la voz de = the voice of.

* la voz de la conciencia = the voice within.

* la voz de la experiencia = the voice of experience.

* la voz de la razón = the voice of reason.

* la voz del odio = the voice of hate.

* la voz interior = the voice within.

* lo absurdo = ridiculousness.

* lo adecuado = adequacy.

* lo + Adjetivo + que sea/esté = how + Adjetivo.

* lo anodino = blandness.

* lo anteriormente expuesto = the preceding.

* lo apropiado = appropriateness.

* lo barato = inexpensiveness.

* lo básico = essential, the, nuts and bolts, bare minimum, bare necessities, the, the lowdown (on).

* lo bastante elevado = high enough.

* lo bastante extenso = adequately scoped.

* lo bueno de = the beauty of.

* lo bueno es que = the good news is (that)..., on the positive side, on the bright side.

* lo bueno viene en frascos pequeños = small is beautiful.

* lo bueno y lo malo = the rights and wrongs.

* lo caro = expensiveness.

* lo chicano = Chicana.

* lo chulo = coolness.

* lo cierto es que = fact is, the fact is (that).

* lo completo = completeness.

* lo completo que Algo está = fullness.

* lo creas o no = believe it or not.

* lo decisivo = the last word.

* lo definitivo = the last word.

* lo desagradable = unpleasantness.

* ¿lo dices en broma? = you must be joking!, you must be kidding!.

* lo directo = directness.

* lo divertido = the fun part.

* lo engorroso de = cumbersomeness.

* lo esencial = essential, the, nuts and bolts, bare minimum, bare necessities, the, the lowdown (on).

* lo estrafalario = zaniness.

* lo estrambótico = zaniness.

* lo extenso = comprehensiveness.

* lo favorable = propitiousness.

* lo hebraico = Hebraica.

* lo hecho hecho está = no use crying over spilt/spilled milk.

* lo importante es lo que eres no cómo te llamas = a rose by any other name.

* lo imprescindible = bare necessities, the, bare minimum.

* lo incómodo de = cumbersomeness.

* lo indefinido = indefiniteness.

* lo indirecto = indirectness.

* lo indispensable = bare necessities, the, bare minimum.

* lo insulso = blandness.

* lo interesante = the fun part.

* lo judío = Judaica.

* lo lindo = cuteness.

* lo llano = flatness.

* lo más cercano a = the nearest thing to.

* lo más conveniente es que = optimally.

* lo más destacado = highlights.

* lo más detestado = pet hate.

* lo más importante = most of all, at its core.

* lo más interesante = highlights.

* lo más mínimo = so much as.

* lo más novedoso = the last word.

* lo más odiado = pet hate.

* lo más parecido a = the nearest thing to.

* lo más probable es que = most probably.

* lo más recio de = brunt of, the.

* lo más recóndito = nooks and crannies.

* lo máximo = the be all and end all, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* lo mejor = the top of the tree.

* lo mejor de = the beauty of, showpiece.

* lo mejor de ambas partes = the best of both worlds.

* lo mejor de lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor de todo = best of all.

* lo mejor entre lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor es que... = the good news is (that)....

* lo mejor está aún por llegar = the best is yet to come.

* lo mejor posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability, at + Posesivo + (very) best, optimally.

* lo mejor que pueda = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* lo mejor que se puede hacer = the best bet.

* lo mejor + ser = the beautiful part + be.

* lo menos posible = as little as possible.

* lo mínimo = bare minimum, bare necessities, the.

* lo mismo ocurre con = the same goes for.

* lo mismo ocurre en el caso de = the same is true (for/of/with).

* lo mismo que = the same as, along the lines of, in much the same way as.

* lo mismo que antes = the same as before.

* lo mismo que para = the same as that for.

* lo mismo se aplica a = the same is true (for/of/with).

* lo molesto de = cumbersomeness.

* lo mucho que = how extensively.

* lo noble = high-mindedness.

* lo no convencional = unconventional, the.

* lo normal + ser + que = there + be + a tendency (to/for), there + be + a tendency (to/for).

* lo oportuno = timeliness.

* lo pasado pasado está = let bygones be bygones.

* lo peor de = brunt of, the.

* lo peor del = the armpit of the.

* lo pintoresco = quaintness.

* lo plano = flatness.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* lo poco convencional = unconventional, the.

* lo primero = for one, first off.

* lo primero de todo = first of all, first off.

* lo prometido es deuda = a promise is a promise.

* lo propicio = propitiousness.

* lo público = publicness.

* lo que = that which, what.

* lo que aguarda a = what is on store for.

* lo que Algo o Alguien se merece, lo que le corresponde, bastante = fair share, fair share.

* lo que a uno cura a otro mata = one man's meat is another man's poison.

* lo que demuestra que = which (just) goes to show that.

* lo que el futuro depara a = what is on store for.

* lo que es aun más inquietante = more disturbingly.

* lo que es aun más preocupante = more disturbingly.

* lo que es aun mejor = better still.

* lo que es aun peor = worse still.

* lo que es bueno para uno es bueno para otro = what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

* lo que es bueno para uno también es bueno para otro = what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

* lo que es más = what is more, what's more.

* lo que es más importante = most importantly, more importantly, most of all, most important.

* lo que es mejor aun = better still.

* lo que es muy importante = importantly.

* lo que es peor = what's worse.

* lo que es peor aun = worse still.

* lo que espera a = what is on store for.

* lo que está bien y lo que está mal = rights and wrongs.

* lo que existe (en el mercado) = what's out there.

* lo que haya que de ser, será = que sera sera, what's meant to be, will be, whatever will be, will be.

* lo que hay (en el mercado) = what's out there.

* lo que hay que hacer = do + the right thing, the way to go.

* lo que hay que hacer y lo que hay que evitar = do's and don'ts, rights and wrongs.

* lo que le corresponde = fair share.

* lo que nos espera = things to come.

* lo que quiera que = whatever.

* lo que sea = something or other.

* lo que se gana por un lado se pierde por otro = swings and roundabouts.

* lo que se pierda en una cosa se gana en la otra = what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.

* lo que + ser = what + be like.

* lo que se suele pagar = going rate, the.

* lo que tenga que pasar, que pase = que sera sera, what's meant to be, will be, whatever will be, will be.

* lo que tenga que ser, será = que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, what's meant to be, will be.

* lo que vale para tí también vale para mí = what's good for the goose is good for the gander, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

* lo rural = rurality.

* los = the, ye.

* los 365 días del año = year-round.

* los 40 principales = Top 40 singles chart.

* los abajo firmantes = the parties hereto.

* los acontecimientos = the course of events.

* lo sagrado = sacredness.

* los albores de = the dawn of.

* los años cincuenta = fifties.

* los años treinta = thirties.

* los árboles no dejan ver el bosque = lose + sight of the forest for the trees.

* los avatares de la guerra = the tides of war.

* los buenos tiempos = the good old days.

* los comienzos de = the dawn of.

* los constantes cambios de = the changing face of, the changing nature of.

* los de = those for, those in.

* los demás = rest, the, everybody else.

* los detalles de la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* los días antes de = leading up to.

* los dos = both, both of them, both of which.

* los efectos negativos se están dejando sentir ahora = chickens come home to roost.

* los gobernantes = the powers-that-be.

* los hay para dar y regalar = there's one born every minute.

* los mandamás = the powers-that-be.

* los más necesitados = those most in need.

* los más pobres + Nombre = the poorest + Nombre.

* los menos locuaces = inarticulate, the.

* los motivos de = the reason behind, the thinking behind, the reasoning behind, the idea behind.

* los necesitados = the needy.

* los orígenes de = the dawn of.

* los otros con los que aparece(n) = neighbours [neighbors, -USA].

* los peores + Nombre = the poorest + Nombre.

* los poderes fáticos = the powers-that-be.

* los pormenores de la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* Los Principios de París = Paris Principles.

* los que = those who.

* los que detentan el poder = the powers-that-be.

* los que mandan = the powers-that-be.

* los que no han recibido formación específica = uninstructed, the.

* los que + Verbo = those + Participio.

* los tribunales = the Bench.

* lo suficientemente cerca = within range.

* lo suficientemente cerca como para oír = within earshot of.

* lo suficientemente estúpido como para = dumb enough to.

* lo suficientemente grande = large enough, big enough.

* lo suficientemente lejos como para no poder oír = out of earshot.

* los últimos coletazos = fag-end.

* lo sumo = the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks, the cat's pyjamas.

* los unos a costa de los otros = at each other's expense.

* los viejos tiempos = the good old days.

* lo tomas o lo dejas = take it or leave it.

* lo último = the last word.

* lo uno es tan malo como lo otro = one is as bad as the other.

* lo vanguardista = cutting edge.

* lo yidish = Yiddica.

* parmarlas = kick + the bucket.

* ser lo que nos espera = be the shape of things to come.

* * *

el (pl los), la; (pl las)

art

[ the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or, ha e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina]

A (con un referente único, conocido o que se define) the

el sol the sun

el lápiz/la goma/los lápices/las gomas que compré the pencil/the eraser/the pencils/the erasers I bought

no, ése no, el que te presté ayer/el de Julio/el rojo no, not that one, the one I lent you yesterday/Julio's/the red one

en la calle Solís in Solís Street

prefiero el mío/los tuyos I prefer mine/yours

me atendió el estúpido del marido that stupid husband of hers served me

yo soy la arquitecta, ella es lexicógrafa I'm the architect, she's a lexicographer

yo fui la que lo rompí or rompió I was the one who broke it

los nacidos entre … those born between …

los que faltamos ayer those of us who weren't here yesterday

¿cuál es Ardiles? — el del sombrero negro which one's Ardiles? — the one with the black hat

un encuentro al que asistieron muchas personalidades a meeting which was attended by many well known people

la obra de la que or de la cual hablábamos the play we were talking about

B

(con sustantivos en sentido genérico): me encanta la ópera I love opera

odio el pescado I hate fish

así es la vida that's life

(nosotros) los mexicanos lo sabemos muy bien we Mexicans know only too well

¿ya vas a la escuela? do you go to school yet?

ya salió del hospital she's out of the hospital ( AmE) o ( BrE) out of hospital

en el mar at sea

viajar por el espacio to travel in space

C

(en expresiones de tiempo): ocurrió el domingo de Pascua/en el verano del 76 it happened on Easter Sunday/in the summer of '76

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo my birthday's on May 28

el mes pasado/que viene last/next month

no trabaja los sábados she doesn't work (on) Saturdays

estudió toda la mañana he studied all morning

a las ocho at eight o'clock, at eight

a eso de las seis around six o'clock

D

(cada): lo venden a $80 el kilo/metro they're selling it at $80 a kilo/a meter o at $80 per kilo/meter

¿cuánto cuesta el paquete de diez? how much does a packet of ten cost?

E

(con fracciones, porcentajes, números): me dio la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero she gave me half the money/a quarter of the money

el 20% de los peruanos 20% of Peruvians

vivo en el cuarto I live on the fifth floor ( AmE) o ( BrE) fourth floor

F [ Vocabulary notes (Spanish) ]

(refiriéndose a partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc): con las manos en los bolsillos with my/your/his hands in my/your/his pockets

¡te cortaste el pelo! you've had your hair cut!

tienes la falda sucia your skirt is dirty

tienes el suéter puesto al revés you've got your sweater on inside out

tiene el pelo largo/los ojos azules he has long hair/blue eyes

G (con nombres propios)

1

(con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc): llamó el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal/el general Santos Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal/General Santos phoned

el gran Caruso the Great Caruso

2

(con nombres de mujeres famosas): la última película de la Monroe Monroe's last movie

3

(en plural): los Ortega (matrimonio) the Ortegas, Mr and Mrs Ortega; (familia) the Ortegas, the Ortega family

a los Josés se les suele llamar Pepe people called José are often known as Pepe

4 (fam: en muchas regiones crit)

(con nombres de pila): pregúntale a la Carmen/al Ricardo ask Carmen/Ricardo

5

(con algunos nombres geográficos): en la India in India

en (el) Perú in Peru

ver África, Argentina, el etc

6

(al calificar): la España de Franco Franco's Spain

el Buñuel que todos conocemos the Buñuel we all know

la Italia del siglo pasado Italy in the last century

7

(con algunos equipos deportivos): juegan contra el Juventus/el Barcelona they're playing against Juventus/Barcelona

H el

(con infinitivo): odiaba el tener que pedírselo he hated having to ask her

es cuidadoso y pausado en el hablar he's careful and deliberate in the way he speaks

el frenético girar de los bailarines the frenzied spinning of the dancers

al + INF ver a prep B 2. (↑ a 3)

* * *

Multiple Entries:
el
él
el (pl
◊ los), la (pl las) art the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or ha, e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina

1
a) ( en general) the;

◊ la Tierra the Earth

b) ( con sustantivos en sentido genérico):

◊ odio el pescado I hate fish;

así es la vida that's life;
(nosotros) los mexicanos we Mexicans;
¿ya vas a la escuela? do you go to school yet?
c) ( refiriéndose a algo que se conoce o se está definiendo):

◊ en la calle Solis in Solis street;

las tuyas yours;
el último the last one;
el estúpido del marido that stupid husband of hers
2
a) el + de:

◊ la del sombrero the one with the hat;

el de las nueve the nine o'clock one;
el de mi hijo my son's
b) el + que:

◊ las que yo ví the ones I saw;

los que estén cansados;
those who are tired, anyone who's tired;
la que te guste whichever you like
3 ( en expresiones de tiempo):
◊ ocurrió el domingo it happened last Sunday;

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo my birthday's on May 28;
el mes pasado last month;
toda la mañana all morning;
a las ocho at eight o'clock
4 ( cada):
◊ $80 el metro/kilo $80 a meter/a kilo, $80 per kilo/meter

5 (con fracciones, porcentajes, números):
◊ la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero half the money/a quarter of the money;

el 20% de … 20% of …
6 (con partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc):
◊ tenía las manos en los bolsillos she had her hands in her pockets;

¡te cortaste el pelo! you've had your hair cut!;
tiene los ojos azules he has blue eyes
7
a) (con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc):

◊ el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal;

los Ortega the Ortegas
b) ( con algunos nombres geográficos):

◊ en la India in India;

ver África, Argentina, etc
él pron pers
a) ( como sujeto) he;

◊ ¿quién se lo va a decir? — él who's going to tell her? — he is;

lo hizo él mismo he did it himself;
fue él it was him
b) (en comparaciones, con preposiciones) him;

( refiriéndose a cosas) it;
◊ llegué antes que él I arrived before him o before he did;

con/para él with/for him;
son de él they're his
el art def m
1 the
2 (no se traduce) (ante un tratamiento formal) el sr. Gómez, Mr Gomez
(cuando el sustantivo es general) el hambre/tiempo, hunger/time
3 (se traduce por un posesivo) (con partes del cuerpo) se ha cortado el pelo, she's cut her hair
(prendas) se lo metió en el bolsillo, he put it in his pocket
(pertenencias) guarda el diario en el cajón, put your diary into the drawer
4 (con días de la semana) iré el miércoles, I'll go on Wednesday
5 (cuando el sustantivo está elidido) the one: prefiero el azul, I prefer the blue one
el de las diez, the ten o'clock one
el que está en la mesa, the one that's on the table
el que más nos guste, whichever one we like best
(delante de un posesivo) el de María, Maria's
es el mío, it's mine
él pron pers
1 (sujeto) (persona) he
(animal, cosa) it: fue él, it was him, fue él el que..., it was him that... o it was he who...
2 (complemento) (persona) him
(animal, cosa) it
dáselo a él, give it to him, es para él, it's for him
3 (posesivo) de él, his
4 (oración comparativa) ella es mejor que él, she's better than him o she's better than he is
'él' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
A
- abajo
- abalanzarse
- abaratarse
- abarquillarse
- abarrotar
- abarrotada
- abarrotado
- abastecimiento
- abatir
- abatimiento
- abdicar
- abierta
- abierto
- abismo
- abogada
- abogado
- abominar
- abominable
- abordar
- aborigen
- aborregarse
- abortar
- abotargada
- abotargado
- abrir
- abreviar
- abrirse
- absoluta
- absoluto
- abstención
- abundancia
- acabar
- acabarse
- acabose
- acallar
- acanallar
- accionariado
- acero
- achacosa
- achacoso
- achatamiento
- achicharrarse
- aclarar
- aclarado
- acomodarse
- acompañar
- acondicionar
- acostumbrada
- acostumbrado
English:
A
- abandon
- ABC
- ability
- about
- above
- abroad
- abseil
- absence
- absent
- absolute
- absolve
- absorb
- abstract
- academic
- accelerate
- accommodate
- accomplice
- account
- accurately
- accusation
- accused
- accustom
- aching
- act
- act on
- act up
- actual
- actually
- acute
- address
- adequately
- adjourn
- admission
- admit
- advance
- advanced
- advantage
- advantageous
- advise
- advocate
- affair
- afford
- afloat
- afraid
- after
- against
- age
- agenda
- aggregate

* * *

el (f la, mpl los, fpl las) art determinado el is used instead of la before feminine nouns which are stressed on the first syllable and begin with “a” or “ha” (e.g. el agua, el hacha). Note that el combines with the prepositions a and de to produce the contracted forms al and del.

1. [con valor especificador] the;

el coche the car;

la casa the house;

los niños the children;

el agua/hacha/águila the water/axe/eagle;

fui a recoger a los niños I went to pick up the children

2. [con sustantivo abstracto, valor genérico]
el amor love;

la vida life;

el hombre Man, human beings;

los derechos de la mujer women's rights;

los niños imitan a los adultos children copy adults;

el pan es un alimento básico bread is a basic food;

la mayoría de la gente no la conoce most people don't know her;

vuelve el biquini bikinis are back

3. [indica posesión, pertenencia]
se partió la pierna he broke his leg;

se quitó los zapatos she took her shoes off;

tiene el pelo oscuro he has dark hair;

me han robado la maleta my suitcase has been stolen;

se dieron la mano they shook hands

4. [con días de la semana, fechas, horas]
vuelven el sábado they're coming back on Saturday;

los domingos vamos al cine we go to the movies (on) Sundays;

llegaré el 1 de mayo [escrito] I'll arrive on 1 May;
[hablado] I'll arrive on the first of May;
son las siete it's seven o'clock;

el año pasado/que viene last/next year

5. [con nombres propios geográficos]
el Sena the (River) Seine;

el Everest (Mount) Everest;

la India India;

La Haya The Hague;

El Cairo Cairo;

la España de la posguerra post-war Spain

6. [con apellido]
la señora Márquez Mrs Márquez;

el señor/el doctor Juárez Mr/Doctor Juárez;

los Amaya [matrimonio] Mr and Mrs Amaya, the Amayas;
[familia completa] the Amayas, the Amaya family;
los Austrias the Hapsburgs;

el Hitler español the Spanish Hitler

7. Fam [con nombre propio de persona]
llama a la María call Maria

8. [con numerales, porcentajes, fracciones]
el siete es mi número de la suerte seven's my lucky number;

llegó el tercero he came third;

el tercer piso the third floor;

un aumento del 30 por ciento a 30 percent increase;

la quinta parte (de) a fifth (of);

el 20 por ciento (de) 20 percent (of)

9. [en proporciones, precios]
100 pesos el kilo 100 pesos a o per kilo

10. [con complemento especificativo]
el/la del sombrero the one with the hat;

los/las de azul [cosas] the blue ones;
[personas] the ones in blue;
he perdido el tren, cogeré el de las nueve I've missed the train, I'll get the nine o'clock one;

el de aquí this one here;

¿los del parque son amigos tuyos? were those people in the park friends of yours?;

prefiero las del escaparate I prefer the ones in the window;

los del fondo no se callan the people at the back won't shut up

11. [con complemento posesivo]
mi hermano y el de Juan my brother and Juan's;

el mío mine;

la tuya yours;

los suyos theirs

12. [con adjetivo]
prefiero el rojo al azul I prefer the red one to the blue one;

el/la mejor the best;

es la mejor de la clase she's the best in the class, she's top of the class;

los seleccionados realizarán un examen those chosen will sit an exam;

el tonto de Ignacio se equivocó that idiot Ignacio got it wrong

13. [con infinitivo]
el beber tanto acabó con él all that drinking is what finished him off;

es amante del buen comer she loves good food;

me sienta mal el tener que decírtelo I don't like to have to tell you

14. [con frases subordinadas]
el/la que [cosa] whichever;
[persona] whoever;
los/las que [cosas] whichever;
[personas] whoever;
coge el/los que quieras take whichever you like;

el que más corra whoever runs fastest, the one who runs the fastest;

las que quieran venir que levanten la mano those who want to come o anyone who wants to come should put their hand up;

el que no te guste no quiere decir que sea malo the fact that you don't like him doesn't make him a bad person

15. [con valor enfático]
¡la pena que me dio verlo en ese estado! I felt so sorry for him when I saw him in that state!

* * *

el

I art the

II pron

:

el de … that of …;

el de Juan Juan’s;

el más grande the biggest (one);

el que está … the one that is …

* * *

él pron

: he, him

él es mi amigo: he's my friend

hablaremos con él: we will speak with him

el pron, (referring to masculine nouns)

1) : the one

tengo mi libro y el tuyo: I have my book and yours

de los cantantes me gusta el de México: I prefer the singer from México

2)

el que : he who, whoever, the one that

el que vino ayer: the one who came yesterday

el que trabaja duro estará contento: he who works hard will be happy

el, la art, pl los, las : the

los niños están en la casa: the boys are in the house

me duele el pie: my foot hurts

* * *

el det

1. the

¿qué te pareció el libro? what did you think of the book?

perdimos el tren we missed the train

2. (posesivo) my / your / his / her etcétera

me rompí el brazo I broke my arm

es el hermano de María it's María's brother

¿te has cortado el pelo? have you had your hair cut?

se puso el jersey he put his jumper on

3. (característica) the one

¿cuál prefieres? el azul which one do you prefer? the blue one

el del pelo largo the one with long hair

el de la camisa negra the one in the black shirt

me gusta el de Alejo I like Alejo's

¡Ojo! Algunas veces no se traduce

¿quieres salir el sábado? do you want to go out on Saturday?

el Sr. García Mr. García

me gusta el arroz I like rice

el que (persona) the one who / the one that (cosa) the one which / the one that

el que llegó primero the one who came first

el que me dejaste the one you lent me

el que (quienquiera) whoever

con el que that... with

el chico con el que salgo the boy that I go out with

el cuchillo con el que lo corté the knife that I cut it with

en el que that... in

el cajón en el que lo puse the drawer that I put it in

el coche en el que iban the car that they were in

Spanish-English dictionary > el
6 él

art.

the (in general).

el coche the car

la casa the house

los niños the children

el agua/hacha/águila the water/ax/eagle

fui a recoger a los niños I went to pick up the children

* * *

el

► determinante

1 the

■ el coche the car

■ el agua water

■ el Japón Japan

■ la Sra. Rodríguez Mrs. Rodríguez

■ llegó el martes he arrived on Tuesday

2 el de the one

■ el del traje azul the one in the blue suit

■ el de Valencia the one from Valencia

■ el de tu hermano your brother's

■ el de hoy today's

3 el que (persona - sujeto) the one who; (- objeto) the one, the one that, the one whom

■ el que vino ayer the one who came yesterday

■ el que vi the one I saw

4 (cosa) the one, the one that, the one which

■ el que me diste the one (that) you gave me

* * *
1. pron.
the one

- el que
2. art.
the

* * *

el; la; los; las
ART DEF
1) [con nombres de referente único o concreto] the

el sol — the sun

perdí el autobús — I missed the bus

¿está fría el agua? — is the water cold?

¿ha llegado ya el abogado? — has the lawyer arrived yet?

el tío ese — * that chap

2) [en algunos casos no se traduce]

a) [con nombres propios]

La India — India

en el México de hoy — in present-day Mexico

el Real Madrid ganó la liga — Real Madrid won the league

el General Prim — General Prim

¿qué manda la señora? — what would madam like?

ha llamado el Sr. Sendra — Mr. Sendra called

dáselo a la Luisa — * give it to Luisa

b) [con nombres en sentido genérico]

me gusta el baloncesto — I like basketball

no me gusta el pescado — I don't like fish

está en la cárcel — he's in jail

c) [con infinitivo]

el hacerlo fue un error — doing it was a mistake, it was a mistake to do it

d) [con cifras, proporciones]

la mitad de la población — half of the population

ahora gano el 3% más — I now earn 3% more

3) [traducido por el posesivo]

se lavó las manos — he washed his hands

me he cortado el pelo — I've had my hair cut

ayer me lavé la cabeza — I washed my hair yesterday

me puse el abrigo — I put my coat on

4) [con expresiones temporales]

a las ocho — at eight o'clock

a los quince días — after a fortnight

vendrá el lunes que viene — he's coming next Monday

la reunión será el 15 de abril — the meeting's on 15 April

en el mes de julio — in (the month of) July

5) (=uso distributivo)

cuesta dos euros el kilo — it costs two euros a kilo

6) [en exclamaciones]

¡el frío que hacía! — it was freezing!

7) [posesivo]

• el de, mi libro y el de usted — my book and yours

este jugador y el de la camisa azul — this player and the one in the blue shirt

el del sombrero rojo — the one with o in the red hat

es un traje bonito, pero prefiero el de Ana — it's a nice suit, but I prefer Ana's

y el de todos los demás — and that of everybody else, and everybody else's

el idiota de Pedro no me contestó al teléfono — that idiot Pedro didn't answer the phone

8)

• el que —

a) + indic

el que compramos no vale — the one we bought is no good

a los que mencionamos añádase este — add this one to the ones we mentioned

yo fui el que lo encontró — I was the one who found it

él es el que quiere — it's he who wants to, he's the one who wants to

los que hacen eso son tontos — anyone who does that is a fool, those who do so are foolish

b) + subjun whoever

el que quiera, que lo haga — whoever wants to can do it

* * *

pronombre personal

a) ( como sujeto) he

él me lo dijo — he told me

¿quién se lo va a decir? - él — who's going to tell her? - he is

lo hizo él mismo — he did it himself

fue él — it was him, it was he (frml)

b) (en comparaciones, con preposiciones) him; ( refiriéndose a cosas) it

llegué antes que él — I arrived before him o before he did

eres tan alto como él — you are as tall as him o as he is

con/contra/para él — with/against/for him

son de él — they're his

con/contra/para él — with/against/for him

* * *

(pl los), la (pl las) articulo

[the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or ha, e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina]

1)

a) ( con un referente único) the

el sol — the sun

la Tierra — the Earth

b) ( con sustantivos en sentido genérico)

odio el pescado — I hate fish

así es la vida — that's life

(nosotros) los mexicanos — we Mexicans

¿ya vas a la escuela? — do you go to school yet?

en el mar — at sea

c) ( con un referente conocido o que se define)

en la calle Solis — in Solis street

el mío/las tuyas — mine/yours

el rojo/último — the red/last one

el estúpido del marido — that stupid husband of hers

los nacidos entre... — those born between...

2)

a)

el + de...: la del sombrero the one with the hat; el de Valencia the one from Valencia; el de las nueve the nine o'clock one; el de Juan/de mi hijo — Juan's/my son's

b)

el + que...: el que acaba de entrar the one who's just come in; las que yo ví the ones I saw; los que estén cansados; those who are tired, anyone who's tired; la que te guste whichever you like; el que lo haya hecho — whoever has done it

3) ( en expresiones de tiempo)

ocurrió el domingo — it happened last Sunday

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo — my birthday's on May 28

el mes pasado/que viene — last/next month

no trabajo los sábados — I don't work (on) Saturdays

toda la mañana — all morning

a las ocho — at eight o'clock

4) ( cada)

$80 el metro/kilo — $80 a meter/a kilo

5) (con fracciones, porcentajes, números)

la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero — half the money/a quarter of the money

el 20% de... — 20% of...

el cuarto piso — the fifth floor (AmE) o (BrE) fourth floor

6) (refiriéndose a partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc)

tenía las manos en los bolsillos — she had her hands in her pockets

te cortaste el pelo! — you've had your hair cut!

tienes la falda sucia — your skirt is dirty

tiene los ojos azules — he has blue eyes

7) ( con nombres propios)

a) (con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc)

el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal — Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal

b) ( en plural)

los Ortega — the Ortegas

c) ( con algunos nombres geográficos)

en la India — in India

en (el) Perú — in Peru; ver África, Argentina, etc

d) ( al calificar)

la España de Franco — Franco's Spain

el Buñuel que todos conocemos — the Buñuel we all know

e) ( con algunos equipos deportivos)

juegan contra el Juventus — they're playing against Juventus

8) el ( con infinitivo)

odiaba el tener que pedírselo — he hated having to ask her

es cuidadoso en el hablar — he's careful in the way he speaks

el frenético girar de los bailarines — the frenzied spinning of the dancers

* * *

el²

= the, ye.

Nota: Forma arcaica.

Ex: The first institute, 'The Catalog: Its Nature and Prospects,' was held in New York City on October 9 and 10, 1975.

Ex: The article 'Ye olde smart card' presents an annotated list of information sources on the credit card industry.

* a lo extremo = to the extreme.

* aunque no lo creas = believe it or not.

* barrio de los ricos = upper town.

* de los mejores = as good as any.

* el abuelo de = the granddaddy of.

* el acabose = the last straw.

* el alcance = comprehensiveness.

* el amor de + Posesivo + vida = the love of + Posesivo + life.

* el año próximo = the year ahead.

* el arte de = the art of, the fine art of.

* el ataque es la mejor defensa = attack is the best form of defence.

* el auténtico = the real McCoy.

* el beneficio de la duda = the benefit of the doubt.

* el bien de = the good of.

* el buenazo de + Nombre = good old + Nombre.

* el bueno de + Nombre = good old + Nombre.

* el camino a seguir = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino correcto = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está lleno de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está plagado de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino por recorrer = the way ahead.

* el camino que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* el camino recorrido = the road travelled so far.

* el camino se hace andando = actions speak louder than words.

* el centro de atención + ser = all eyes + be + on.

* el charco = the big pond.

* el ciudadano de a pie = the average Joe.

* el ciudadano medio = the average Joe.

* el cliente siempre tiene la razón = the customer is always right.

* el colmo = the last straw.

* el consejo de otra persona = a second opinion.

* el copón = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* el corazón de = the heart of.

* el crecimiento de = the rising tide of.

* el cual = which.

* el de = that in, that of.

* el diablo está en los detalles = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* el día del Juicio Final = the Day of Judgement.

* El Diluvio = the Flood.

* el dinero es el origen de todos los males = money is the root of all evil.

* el dinero es la fuente de todos los males = money is the root of all evil.

* el dinero mueve al mundo = money makes the world go (a)round.

* el dinero no crece en los árboles = money doesn't grow on trees.

* el doble = twice + as many.

* el doble de = twice + the number of.

* El Dorado = El Dorado.

* el enemigo en casa = the enemy within.

* el entonces + Nombre = the then + Nombre.

* el espíritu de la época = the spirit of the times.

* el estado de las cosas = the lay of the land [the lie of the land, -UK].

* el evitar = avoidance.

* el éxito genera éxito = success breeds success (SBS).

* el éxito llama al éxito = success breeds success (SBS).

* el final de = the close of.

* el final de los problemas = the light at the end of the tunnel.

* el fin del mundo = the ends of the earth.

* el fin de semana = over the weekend, at the weekend.

* el fin de todos los fines = the end of all ends.

* el fin justifica los medios = the end justifies the means.

* el fruto de + Nombre = the fruit of + Nombre.

* el futuro = the way ahead, the way of the future.

* el futuro + estar + justo a la vuelta de la esquina = the future + be + just around the corner.

* el Gato con Botas = Puss in Boots.

* el grado de = the extent of.

* el grado de + Nombre = the breadth and depth of + Nombre.

* el grado en que = the extent to which.

* el gran hermano = big brother.

* el guapo de + Nombre = good old + Nombre.

* el hecho es que = fact is, the fact is (that).

* el hecho es que... = the fact of the matter is that....

* el hombre de la calle = the average Joe.

* el hombre no es una isla = no man is an island.

* el hombre propone y Dios dispone = Man proposes, God disposes.

* el impulsor de = the power behind.

* el interés público = the public interest.

* El Juicio Final = The Last Judgement.

* el lastre de = the shackles of.

* el llevar = carrying.

* el lugar que le corresponde a = the due place of.

* El Mago de Oz = The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz.

* el más = all-time.

* el más + Adjetivo = the most + Adjetivo.

* el más allá = hereafter.

* el más bajo = rock-bottom.

* el más favorito del mes = pick of the month.

* el más leído = the most widely read.

* el más recomendado = best of breed, the.

* el Mediterráneo = Mediterranean Sea, the, the Med.

* el mejor = best of breed, the.

* el mejor de todos = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* el mejor hasta ahora = the best yet.

* el mejor modo de = the best way of.

* el mejor momento de todos = the time of all times.

* el mejor + Nombre = the best available + Nombre.

* el mejor que ha hecho hasta ahora = Posesivo + best yet.

* el mentir = lying.

* el mes pasado = last month.

* el mío = mine.

* el mismo + Nombre (+ que) = every bit as much + Nombre (+ as).

* el mismo número = as many.

* el modo como = the way in which.

* el modo de = the way in which.

* el modo de + Infinitivo = the way to go about + Gerundio.

* el momento preciso = the point in time at which.

* el motor de = the power behind.

* el movimiento se demuestra andando = actions speak louder than words.

* el muerto al hoyo y el vivo al bollo = dead men have no friends.

* el mundo de las noticias = newsmaking.

* el mundo en la palma de la mano = the world in the palm of + Posesivo + hand.

* el mundo está a sus pies = the world is + Posesivo + oyster.

* el mundo es un pañuelo = it's a small world.

* el + Nombre + correcto al + Nombre + adecuado en el momento oportuno = the right + Nombre + to the right + Nombre + at the right time.

* el + Nombre + es inestimable = the + Nombre + cannot be overestimated.

* el + Nombre + más completo = the + Nombre + to end all + Nombre.

* el no va más = the be all and end all, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* el nuevo aspecto de = the changing face of, the changing nature of.

* el orgullo de = showpiece.

* el otro lado de la barrera = the other side of the fence.

* el padre de = the father of.

* el pan nuestro de cada día = all in a day's work.

* el paso del tiempo = the passage of time, the sands of time.

* el peor de todos = the worst of the lot.

* el perro es el mejor amigo del hombre = a dog is man's best friend.

* el peso de = brunt of, the.

* el populacho = the great unwashed.

* el porqué de = the reason behind, the thinking behind, the reasoning behind, the idea behind.

* el portavoz de = the voice of.

* el presente = thisness.

* el primer intento = the first time around.

* el primer + Nombre = the earliest + Nombre.

* el primero mencionado = former.

* el principal = the number one.

* el principio de = the dawn of.

* el principio del fin = the beginning of the end.

* el principio de + Mes/Estación = early + Mes/Estación.

* el problema no es el qué, sino el cómo = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* el problema obvio = the elephant in the room.

* el proletariado = the great unwashed.

* el pulmón de = the heart of.

* el punto más bajo = rock-bottom.

* el que = that, the one.

* el que aprende = learner.

* el que las hace, las paga = you've made your bed, now you must lie in it!.

* el que lo encuentre se lo queda = finders keepers.

* el que mantiene a la familia = breadwinner [bread winner].

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* el que no llora, no mama = the squeaky (squeaking) wheel gets the grease (the oil/oiled).

* el que no se aventura no cruza el mar = nothing ventured, nothing gained.

* el que pregunta = inquirer [enquirer, -UK].

* el quid de la cuestión = the crux of the problem, the crux of the matter.

* el registro de los registros = record-of-record.

* el registro modelo = record-of-record.

* el resto = rest, the.

* el resto (de) = the remainder (of), the rest (of).

* El Salvador = El Salvador.

* el segundo mencionado = latter.

* el sendero que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* el ser barato = cheapness.

* el siguiente no, el otro = next but one.

* el sitio adecuado en el momento adecuado = the right place at the right time.

* el sueño de toda persona = the stuff dreams are made of.

* el sueño de todos = the stuff dreams are made of.

* el sueño de todo ser viviente = the stuff dreams are made of.

* el súmmum = the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* el tamaño de = the extent of.

* el tema de la discusión = the focus of the discussion.

* el tema del debate = the focus of the discussion.

* el tiempo de Algo = in season.

* el tiempo es oro = time is money.

* el tiempo lo dirá = only time will tell.

* el tiempo vuela = time flies (by).

* el tipo de = the range of.

* el todo es más grande que la suma de sus partes = the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

* el total de = the total sum of, the sum total of.

* el transcurrir del tiempo = the sands of time.

* el transcurso del tiempo = as time goes by.

* el último citado = latter.

* el último grito = the last word, the cat's meow, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* el último + Nombre = the latest + Nombre.

* el último pero no el menos importante = the last but by no means least.

* el único = the one and only.

* el único e incomparable = the one and only.

* el único e inimitable = the one and only.

* el único problema = a fly in the soup, the fly in the ointment.

* el verdadero = the real McCoy.

* el verdadero problema = the elephant in the room.

* el ver televisión = television viewing.

* el viejo = the elder.

* el vulgo = the great unwashed.

* el yugo de = the shackles of.

* espicharlas = kick + the bucket.

* la = the, ye.

* la alternativa + ser = the alternative + be.

* la belleza es superficial = beauty is only skin deep.

* La Biblioteca Responde = Ask the Library.

* la Biblioteca y el Archivo de Canadá = Library and Archives Canada.

* la buena noticia = the good news.

* la calidad es nuestro lema = quality is our middle name.

* la calma que precede a la tormenta = the lull before the storm.

* la cambiante fisonomía de = the changing face of, the changing nature of.

* la caridad empieza por uno mismo = charity begins at home.

* la ciudadana de a pie = the average Jane.

* la ciudadana media = the average Jane.

* la ciudad que nunca duerme = the city that never sleeps.

* la clave de = at the heart of.

* la clave está en la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* la comunidad en general = the community at large.

* la Convención de la Haya de 1954 = the 1954 Hague Convention.

* la copa del árbol = the top of the tree.

* la cosa es que = the thing is.

* la cosa principal = the number one thing.

* la crème de la crème = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* la cruz de = the bane of.

* la cuestión es que = the thing is.

* la década de los + Número = the + Número + s.

* la demanda de = a call for.

* la diversidad de = the range of.

* la diversidad de + Nombre = the many + Nombre.

* la edad se lleva en el alma = you are as old as you feel.

* la época de Algo = in season.

* la escoria de la sociedad = the gutter.

* la espalda de = the back of.

* la evidencia = the writing on the wall.

* la fe mueve montañas = faith will move mountains.

* la filosofía de = the reason behind, the reasoning behind.

* la flor de + Nombre = the prime of + Nombre.

* la flor y nata = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* la forma correcta de hacer las cosas = the way to go.

* la forma de = ways and means (of/for/to/in/by).

* la forma de + Infinitivo = the way to go about + Gerundio.

* la forma de ver las cosas = the way + to see things.

* la fuerza de la mayoría = strength in numbers.

* la gente decía que = rumour had it that.

* la gente dice que = rumour has it that.

* la gente se está inquietando = the natives are nervous.

* la gente se está poniendo nerviosa = the natives are nervous.

* la gente se puso de pie para aplaudir = standing ovation.

* la gota que colmó el vaso = the straw that broke the camel's back.

* la Gran Manzana = the Big Apple.

* la gran mayoría de = the vast majority of, the bulk of.

* la historia + repetirse = history + come full circle.

* la historia + volverse a repetir = history + come full circle.

* la hostia = the cat's pyjamas, the cat's pyjamas, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* la hoz y el martillo = the hammer and sickle.

* la idea que hay detrás de = the idea behind.

* la imaginación no tiene límites = your imagination is the limit.

* la imitación es la mejor forma de que lo halaguen a uno = imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

* La Isla del Tesoro = Treasure Island.

* la joya de = showpiece.

* la judicatura = the Bench.

* la justicia = the Bench.

* la juventud no es cuestión de edad sino de espíritu = you are as old as you feel.

* la leche = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* la luz al final del túnel = the light at the end of the tunnel.

* la magistratura = the Bench.

* la manera de + Infinitivo = the way to go about + Gerundio.

* la mano que mece la cuna es la mano que domina el mundo = the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

* la mano que mece la cuna gobierna el mundo = the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

* la mar de = a whole slew of.

* la mayoría con mucho de = the vast majority of.

* la mayoría de = the majority of, most + Nombre, the main bulk of.

* la mayoría de la gente = most people, the majority of the people.

* la mayoría de las personas = most people, the majority of the people.

* la mayoría de las veces = most of the time, more often than not.

* la mayoría del mundo = the majority of the world, most people, the majority of the people.

* la mayoría del tiempo = most of the time.

* la mayor parte de = the majority of, the main bulk of, the lion's share of.

* la mayor parte de las veces = more often than not.

* la medida en que = the extent to which.

* la mejor forma de hacer Algo = best practices, lessons learned [lessons learnt].

* la mejor manera = how best.

* la mejor manera de = the best way of.

* la mejor oferta = the best deal.

* la mejor opción = the best bet.

* la mejor salida = the best way forward.

* la mejor solución = the best way forward.

* la menor duda de que = no doubt whatsoever.

* la mentira = lying.

* la mirada en = eye(s) on.

* la misma persona = one and the same person.

* la mitad (1/2) = one-half (1/2).

* la necesidad agudiza el ingenio = necessity mothers invention.

* la ocasión la pintan calva = make + hay while the sun shines.

* la opinión de otra persona = a second opinion.

* la oportunidad de + Posesivo + vida = the opportunity of a lifetime.

* la parte de atrás de = the back of.

* la parte más dura de = brunt of, the.

* la parte más importante = the heart of.

* la parte principal de = the bulk of.

* la parte superior izquierda de = the upper left of.

* la parte trasera de = the back of.

* la personificación de la confianza en uno mismo = confidence personified.

* la pesadilla de = the bane of.

* la pesca del día = the day's catch, the catch of the day.

* la petición de = a call for.

* la píldora = the pill.

* la plebe = the great unwashed.

* la polla = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* la práctica hace al maestro = practice makes perfect.

* la primera tentativa = the first time around.

* la primera vez = the first time around.

* la proporción mayor de = the lion's share of.

* la próxima moda = the next hot thing.

* la puntilla = the final/last nail in + Posesivo + coffin.

* la que = that, the one.

* la razón de ser = the reason for being.

* la realidad es que = the fact remains that..., fact is, the fact is (that).

* la rehostia = the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers.

* la responsabilidad ahora recae en + Nombre = the ball is in + Posesivo + court.

* la responsabilidad es de... = the buck + stops....

* la riqueza de = the wealth of.

* la ruina de = the bane of.

* las = the, ye.

* las 24 horas = round the clock, around the clock.

* las apariencias engañan = don't judge a book by its cover, there's more to it than meets the eye.

* las ataduras de = the shackles of.

* las autoridades = the powers-that-be.

* las cosas + cambiar = pendulum + swing.

* las cosas + estar + claras = the (hand)writing + be + on the wall, see it + coming.

* las cosas no pasan así como así = everything happens for a reason (and a purpose).

* las cosas no pasan (así) porque sí = everything happens for a reason (and a purpose).

* las cosas no son tan simples como parecen = there's more to it than meets the eye.

* las cosas + seguir + igual = business + revolve + as usual.

* las cosas siguen igual = business as usual.

* las cosas sólo pasan una vez = lightning never strikes twice.

* las cosas son más complicadas de lo que parecen = there's more to it than meets the eye.

* las cosas tal y como son = the birds and the bees.

* las cosas + volver + a su punto de partida = the wheel + turn + full circle.

* las de = those for.

* las doce del mediodía = noon.

* la segunda mitad de + Fecha = the latter part of + Fecha.

* la segunda opción = the next best choice.

* la segunda vez = the second time around.

* la semana pasada = last week.

* la senda que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* la situación = the course of events.

* la sociedad en general = society at large.

* las posibilidades son infinitas = the possibilities are endless.

* las profundidades del mar = the deep.

* las profundidades del océano = the deep.

* las pruebas = the writing on the wall.

* las raíces se encuentran = roots + lie.

* las raíces se remontan a = roots + lie.

* las razones de = the reason behind, the thinking behind, the reasoning behind, the idea behind.

* las Reglas de Cutter para un Catálogo Diccionario = Cutter's Rules for a Dictionary Catalog.

* las triquiñuelas de la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* la suerte + cambiar = the tide + turn.

* la suerte estaba echada = the die was cast, the die had been cast.

* la suerte está echada = the die is cast.

* la suma total de = the total sum of, the sum total of.

* las uvas están verdes = sour grapes.

* las veinticuatro horas = day and night, day or night, night and day.

* la temporada de Algo = in season.

* la tierra de la abundancia = the land of plenty.

* la tierra de las oportunidades = the land of opportunity.

* la tira de = a whole slew of.

* la tira de tiempo = donkey's years.

* la triste realidad es que = the sad fact is (that).

* la última palabra = the last word, the last word, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* la última vez = last time.

* la última vez que = the last time.

* la única pega = the fly in the ointment, a fly in the soup.

* la unión hace la fuerza = strength in numbers.

* la ventaja de = the beauty of.

* la ventaja es que = on the positive side, the advantage is that, on the bright side.

* la verdad = the lowdown (on).

* la verdad es que = if the truth be known, if the truth be told, the fact is (that), fact is.

* la verdad es que... = the fact of the matter is that....

* la verdad sea dicha = to tell the truth.

* la verdad sea dicha que = if the truth be told.

* la Vía Láctea = the Milky Way.

* la vida continúa = the show must go on.

* la vida + continuar = life + go on.

* la vida es así = life's like that.

* ¡la vida no es un camino de rosas! = the course of true love never did run smooth!.

* la vida + seguir = life + go on.

* la víspera de = on the eve of.

* la voz de = the voice of.

* la voz de la conciencia = the voice within.

* la voz de la experiencia = the voice of experience.

* la voz de la razón = the voice of reason.

* la voz del odio = the voice of hate.

* la voz interior = the voice within.

* lo absurdo = ridiculousness.

* lo adecuado = adequacy.

* lo + Adjetivo + que sea/esté = how + Adjetivo.

* lo anodino = blandness.

* lo anteriormente expuesto = the preceding.

* lo apropiado = appropriateness.

* lo barato = inexpensiveness.

* lo básico = essential, the, nuts and bolts, bare minimum, bare necessities, the, the lowdown (on).

* lo bastante elevado = high enough.

* lo bastante extenso = adequately scoped.

* lo bueno de = the beauty of.

* lo bueno es que = the good news is (that)..., on the positive side, on the bright side.

* lo bueno viene en frascos pequeños = small is beautiful.

* lo bueno y lo malo = the rights and wrongs.

* lo caro = expensiveness.

* lo chicano = Chicana.

* lo chulo = coolness.

* lo cierto es que = fact is, the fact is (that).

* lo completo = completeness.

* lo completo que Algo está = fullness.

* lo creas o no = believe it or not.

* lo decisivo = the last word.

* lo definitivo = the last word.

* lo desagradable = unpleasantness.

* ¿lo dices en broma? = you must be joking!, you must be kidding!.

* lo directo = directness.

* lo divertido = the fun part.

* lo engorroso de = cumbersomeness.

* lo esencial = essential, the, nuts and bolts, bare minimum, bare necessities, the, the lowdown (on).

* lo estrafalario = zaniness.

* lo estrambótico = zaniness.

* lo extenso = comprehensiveness.

* lo favorable = propitiousness.

* lo hebraico = Hebraica.

* lo hecho hecho está = no use crying over spilt/spilled milk.

* lo importante es lo que eres no cómo te llamas = a rose by any other name.

* lo imprescindible = bare necessities, the, bare minimum.

* lo incómodo de = cumbersomeness.

* lo indefinido = indefiniteness.

* lo indirecto = indirectness.

* lo indispensable = bare necessities, the, bare minimum.

* lo insulso = blandness.

* lo interesante = the fun part.

* lo judío = Judaica.

* lo lindo = cuteness.

* lo llano = flatness.

* lo más cercano a = the nearest thing to.

* lo más conveniente es que = optimally.

* lo más destacado = highlights.

* lo más detestado = pet hate.

* lo más importante = most of all, at its core.

* lo más interesante = highlights.

* lo más mínimo = so much as.

* lo más novedoso = the last word.

* lo más odiado = pet hate.

* lo más parecido a = the nearest thing to.

* lo más probable es que = most probably.

* lo más recio de = brunt of, the.

* lo más recóndito = nooks and crannies.

* lo máximo = the be all and end all, the bee's knees, the cat's pyjamas, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks.

* lo mejor = the top of the tree.

* lo mejor de = the beauty of, showpiece.

* lo mejor de ambas partes = the best of both worlds.

* lo mejor de lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor de todo = best of all.

* lo mejor entre lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor es que... = the good news is (that)....

* lo mejor está aún por llegar = the best is yet to come.

* lo mejor posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability, at + Posesivo + (very) best, optimally.

* lo mejor que pueda = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* lo mejor que se puede hacer = the best bet.

* lo mejor + ser = the beautiful part + be.

* lo menos posible = as little as possible.

* lo mínimo = bare minimum, bare necessities, the.

* lo mismo ocurre con = the same goes for.

* lo mismo ocurre en el caso de = the same is true (for/of/with).

* lo mismo que = the same as, along the lines of, in much the same way as.

* lo mismo que antes = the same as before.

* lo mismo que para = the same as that for.

* lo mismo se aplica a = the same is true (for/of/with).

* lo molesto de = cumbersomeness.

* lo mucho que = how extensively.

* lo noble = high-mindedness.

* lo no convencional = unconventional, the.

* lo normal + ser + que = there + be + a tendency (to/for), there + be + a tendency (to/for).

* lo oportuno = timeliness.

* lo pasado pasado está = let bygones be bygones.

* lo peor de = brunt of, the.

* lo peor del = the armpit of the.

* lo pintoresco = quaintness.

* lo plano = flatness.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* lo poco convencional = unconventional, the.

* lo primero = for one, first off.

* lo primero de todo = first of all, first off.

* lo prometido es deuda = a promise is a promise.

* lo propicio = propitiousness.

* lo público = publicness.

* lo que = that which, what.

* lo que aguarda a = what is on store for.

* lo que Algo o Alguien se merece, lo que le corresponde, bastante = fair share, fair share.

* lo que a uno cura a otro mata = one man's meat is another man's poison.

* lo que demuestra que = which (just) goes to show that.

* lo que el futuro depara a = what is on store for.

* lo que es aun más inquietante = more disturbingly.

* lo que es aun más preocupante = more disturbingly.

* lo que es aun mejor = better still.

* lo que es aun peor = worse still.

* lo que es bueno para uno es bueno para otro = what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

* lo que es bueno para uno también es bueno para otro = what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

* lo que es más = what is more, what's more.

* lo que es más importante = most importantly, more importantly, most of all, most important.

* lo que es mejor aun = better still.

* lo que es muy importante = importantly.

* lo que es peor = what's worse.

* lo que es peor aun = worse still.

* lo que espera a = what is on store for.

* lo que está bien y lo que está mal = rights and wrongs.

* lo que existe (en el mercado) = what's out there.

* lo que haya que de ser, será = que sera sera, what's meant to be, will be, whatever will be, will be.

* lo que hay (en el mercado) = what's out there.

* lo que hay que hacer = do + the right thing, the way to go.

* lo que hay que hacer y lo que hay que evitar = do's and don'ts, rights and wrongs.

* lo que le corresponde = fair share.

* lo que nos espera = things to come.

* lo que quiera que = whatever.

* lo que sea = something or other.

* lo que se gana por un lado se pierde por otro = swings and roundabouts.

* lo que se pierda en una cosa se gana en la otra = what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.

* lo que + ser = what + be like.

* lo que se suele pagar = going rate, the.

* lo que tenga que pasar, que pase = que sera sera, what's meant to be, will be, whatever will be, will be.

* lo que tenga que ser, será = que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, what's meant to be, will be.

* lo que vale para tí también vale para mí = what's good for the goose is good for the gander, what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

* lo rural = rurality.

* los = the, ye.

* los 365 días del año = year-round.

* los 40 principales = Top 40 singles chart.

* los abajo firmantes = the parties hereto.

* los acontecimientos = the course of events.

* lo sagrado = sacredness.

* los albores de = the dawn of.

* los años cincuenta = fifties.

* los años treinta = thirties.

* los árboles no dejan ver el bosque = lose + sight of the forest for the trees.

* los avatares de la guerra = the tides of war.

* los buenos tiempos = the good old days.

* los comienzos de = the dawn of.

* los constantes cambios de = the changing face of, the changing nature of.

* los de = those for, those in.

* los demás = rest, the, everybody else.

* los detalles de la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* los días antes de = leading up to.

* los dos = both, both of them, both of which.

* los efectos negativos se están dejando sentir ahora = chickens come home to roost.

* los gobernantes = the powers-that-be.

* los hay para dar y regalar = there's one born every minute.

* los mandamás = the powers-that-be.

* los más necesitados = those most in need.

* los más pobres + Nombre = the poorest + Nombre.

* los menos locuaces = inarticulate, the.

* los motivos de = the reason behind, the thinking behind, the reasoning behind, the idea behind.

* los necesitados = the needy.

* los orígenes de = the dawn of.

* los otros con los que aparece(n) = neighbours [neighbors, -USA].

* los peores + Nombre = the poorest + Nombre.

* los poderes fáticos = the powers-that-be.

* los pormenores de la letra pequeña = the devil (is/lives) in the details.

* Los Principios de París = Paris Principles.

* los que = those who.

* los que detentan el poder = the powers-that-be.

* los que mandan = the powers-that-be.

* los que no han recibido formación específica = uninstructed, the.

* los que + Verbo = those + Participio.

* los tribunales = the Bench.

* lo suficientemente cerca = within range.

* lo suficientemente cerca como para oír = within earshot of.

* lo suficientemente estúpido como para = dumb enough to.

* lo suficientemente grande = large enough, big enough.

* lo suficientemente lejos como para no poder oír = out of earshot.

* los últimos coletazos = fag-end.

* lo sumo = the bee's knees, the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, the dog's bollocks, the cat's pyjamas.

* los unos a costa de los otros = at each other's expense.

* los viejos tiempos = the good old days.

* lo tomas o lo dejas = take it or leave it.

* lo último = the last word.

* lo uno es tan malo como lo otro = one is as bad as the other.

* lo vanguardista = cutting edge.

* lo yidish = Yiddica.

* parmarlas = kick + the bucket.

* ser lo que nos espera = be the shape of things to come.

* * *

el (pl los), la; (pl las)

art

[ the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or, ha e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina]

A (con un referente único, conocido o que se define) the

el sol the sun

el lápiz/la goma/los lápices/las gomas que compré the pencil/the eraser/the pencils/the erasers I bought

no, ése no, el que te presté ayer/el de Julio/el rojo no, not that one, the one I lent you yesterday/Julio's/the red one

en la calle Solís in Solís Street

prefiero el mío/los tuyos I prefer mine/yours

me atendió el estúpido del marido that stupid husband of hers served me

yo soy la arquitecta, ella es lexicógrafa I'm the architect, she's a lexicographer

yo fui la que lo rompí or rompió I was the one who broke it

los nacidos entre … those born between …

los que faltamos ayer those of us who weren't here yesterday

¿cuál es Ardiles? — el del sombrero negro which one's Ardiles? — the one with the black hat

un encuentro al que asistieron muchas personalidades a meeting which was attended by many well known people

la obra de la que or de la cual hablábamos the play we were talking about

B

(con sustantivos en sentido genérico): me encanta la ópera I love opera

odio el pescado I hate fish

así es la vida that's life

(nosotros) los mexicanos lo sabemos muy bien we Mexicans know only too well

¿ya vas a la escuela? do you go to school yet?

ya salió del hospital she's out of the hospital ( AmE) o ( BrE) out of hospital

en el mar at sea

viajar por el espacio to travel in space

C

(en expresiones de tiempo): ocurrió el domingo de Pascua/en el verano del 76 it happened on Easter Sunday/in the summer of '76

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo my birthday's on May 28

el mes pasado/que viene last/next month

no trabaja los sábados she doesn't work (on) Saturdays

estudió toda la mañana he studied all morning

a las ocho at eight o'clock, at eight

a eso de las seis around six o'clock

D

(cada): lo venden a $80 el kilo/metro they're selling it at $80 a kilo/a meter o at $80 per kilo/meter

¿cuánto cuesta el paquete de diez? how much does a packet of ten cost?

E

(con fracciones, porcentajes, números): me dio la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero she gave me half the money/a quarter of the money

el 20% de los peruanos 20% of Peruvians

vivo en el cuarto I live on the fifth floor ( AmE) o ( BrE) fourth floor

F [ Vocabulary notes (Spanish) ]

(refiriéndose a partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc): con las manos en los bolsillos with my/your/his hands in my/your/his pockets

¡te cortaste el pelo! you've had your hair cut!

tienes la falda sucia your skirt is dirty

tienes el suéter puesto al revés you've got your sweater on inside out

tiene el pelo largo/los ojos azules he has long hair/blue eyes

G (con nombres propios)

1

(con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc): llamó el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal/el general Santos Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal/General Santos phoned

el gran Caruso the Great Caruso

2

(con nombres de mujeres famosas): la última película de la Monroe Monroe's last movie

3

(en plural): los Ortega (matrimonio) the Ortegas, Mr and Mrs Ortega; (familia) the Ortegas, the Ortega family

a los Josés se les suele llamar Pepe people called José are often known as Pepe

4 (fam: en muchas regiones crit)

(con nombres de pila): pregúntale a la Carmen/al Ricardo ask Carmen/Ricardo

5

(con algunos nombres geográficos): en la India in India

en (el) Perú in Peru

ver África, Argentina, el etc

6

(al calificar): la España de Franco Franco's Spain

el Buñuel que todos conocemos the Buñuel we all know

la Italia del siglo pasado Italy in the last century

7

(con algunos equipos deportivos): juegan contra el Juventus/el Barcelona they're playing against Juventus/Barcelona

H el

(con infinitivo): odiaba el tener que pedírselo he hated having to ask her

es cuidadoso y pausado en el hablar he's careful and deliberate in the way he speaks

el frenético girar de los bailarines the frenzied spinning of the dancers

al + INF ver a prep B 2. (↑ a 3)

* * *

Multiple Entries:
el
él
el (pl
◊ los), la (pl las) art the masculine article el is also used before feminine nouns which begin with accented a or ha, e.g. el agua pura, el hada madrina

1
a) ( en general) the;

◊ la Tierra the Earth

b) ( con sustantivos en sentido genérico):

◊ odio el pescado I hate fish;

así es la vida that's life;
(nosotros) los mexicanos we Mexicans;
¿ya vas a la escuela? do you go to school yet?
c) ( refiriéndose a algo que se conoce o se está definiendo):

◊ en la calle Solis in Solis street;

las tuyas yours;
el último the last one;
el estúpido del marido that stupid husband of hers
2
a) el + de:

◊ la del sombrero the one with the hat;

el de las nueve the nine o'clock one;
el de mi hijo my son's
b) el + que:

◊ las que yo ví the ones I saw;

los que estén cansados;
those who are tired, anyone who's tired;
la que te guste whichever you like
3 ( en expresiones de tiempo):
◊ ocurrió el domingo it happened last Sunday;

mi cumpleaños es el 28 de mayo my birthday's on May 28;
el mes pasado last month;
toda la mañana all morning;
a las ocho at eight o'clock
4 ( cada):
◊ $80 el metro/kilo $80 a meter/a kilo, $80 per kilo/meter

5 (con fracciones, porcentajes, números):
◊ la mitad/la cuarta parte del dinero half the money/a quarter of the money;

el 20% de … 20% of …
6 (con partes del cuerpo, prendas de vestir, artículos personales, etc):
◊ tenía las manos en los bolsillos she had her hands in her pockets;

¡te cortaste el pelo! you've had your hair cut!;
tiene los ojos azules he has blue eyes
7
a) (con apellidos acompañados de título, adjetivos, etc):

◊ el señor Ortiz/la doctora Vidal Mr Ortiz/Doctor Vidal;

los Ortega the Ortegas
b) ( con algunos nombres geográficos):

◊ en la India in India;

ver África, Argentina, etc
él pron pers
a) ( como sujeto) he;

◊ ¿quién se lo va a decir? — él who's going to tell her? — he is;

lo hizo él mismo he did it himself;
fue él it was him
b) (en comparaciones, con preposiciones) him;

( refiriéndose a cosas) it;
◊ llegué antes que él I arrived before him o before he did;

con/para él with/for him;
son de él they're his
el art def m
1 the
2 (no se traduce) (ante un tratamiento formal) el sr. Gómez, Mr Gomez
(cuando el sustantivo es general) el hambre/tiempo, hunger/time
3 (se traduce por un posesivo) (con partes del cuerpo) se ha cortado el pelo, she's cut her hair
(prendas) se lo metió en el bolsillo, he put it in his pocket
(pertenencias) guarda el diario en el cajón, put your diary into the drawer
4 (con días de la semana) iré el miércoles, I'll go on Wednesday
5 (cuando el sustantivo está elidido) the one: prefiero el azul, I prefer the blue one
el de las diez, the ten o'clock one
el que está en la mesa, the one that's on the table
el que más nos guste, whichever one we like best
(delante de un posesivo) el de María, Maria's
es el mío, it's mine
él pron pers
1 (sujeto) (persona) he
(animal, cosa) it: fue él, it was him, fue él el que..., it was him that... o it was he who...
2 (complemento) (persona) him
(animal, cosa) it
dáselo a él, give it to him, es para él, it's for him
3 (posesivo) de él, his
4 (oración comparativa) ella es mejor que él, she's better than him o she's better than he is
'él' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
A
- abajo
- abalanzarse
- abaratarse
- abarquillarse
- abarrotar
- abarrotada
- abarrotado
- abastecimiento
- abatir
- abatimiento
- abdicar
- abierta
- abierto
- abismo
- abogada
- abogado
- abominar
- abominable
- abordar
- aborigen
- aborregarse
- abortar
- abotargada
- abotargado
- abrir
- abreviar
- abrirse
- absoluta
- absoluto
- abstención
- abundancia
- acabar
- acabarse
- acabose
- acallar
- acanallar
- accionariado
- acero
- achacosa
- achacoso
- achatamiento
- achicharrarse
- aclarar
- aclarado
- acomodarse
- acompañar
- acondicionar
- acostumbrada
- acostumbrado
English:
A
- abandon
- ABC
- ability
- about
- above
- abroad
- abseil
- absence
- absent
- absolute
- absolve
- absorb
- abstract
- academic
- accelerate
- accommodate
- accomplice
- account
- accurately
- accusation
- accused
- accustom
- aching
- act
- act on
- act up
- actual
- actually
- acute
- address
- adequately
- adjourn
- admission
- admit
- advance
- advanced
- advantage
- advantageous
- advise
- advocate
- affair
- afford
- afloat
- afraid
- after
- against
- age
- agenda
- aggregate

* * *

el (f la, mpl los, fpl las) art determinado el is used instead of la before feminine nouns which are stressed on the first syllable and begin with “a” or “ha” (e.g. el agua, el hacha). Note that el combines with the prepositions a and de to produce the contracted forms al and del.

1. [con valor especificador] the;

el coche the car;

la casa the house;

los niños the children;

el agua/hacha/águila the water/axe/eagle;

fui a recoger a los niños I went to pick up the children

2. [con sustantivo abstracto, valor genérico]
el amor love;

la vida life;

el hombre Man, human beings;

los derechos de la mujer women's rights;

los niños imitan a los adultos children copy adults;

el pan es un alimento básico bread is a basic food;

la mayoría de la gente no la conoce most people don't know her;

vuelve el biquini bikinis are back

3. [indica posesión, pertenencia]
se partió la pierna he broke his leg;

se quitó los zapatos she took her shoes off;

tiene el pelo oscuro he has dark hair;

me han robado la maleta my suitcase has been stolen;

se dieron la mano they shook hands

4. [con días de la semana, fechas, horas]
vuelven el sábado they're coming back on Saturday;

los domingos vamos al cine we go to the movies (on) Sundays;

llegaré el 1 de mayo [escrito] I'll arrive on 1 May;
[hablado] I'll arrive on the first of May;
son las siete it's seven o'clock;

el año pasado/que viene last/next year

5. [con nombres propios geográficos]
el Sena the (River) Seine;

el Everest (Mount) Everest;

la India India;

La Haya The Hague;

El Cairo Cairo;

la España de la posguerra post-war Spain

6. [con apellido]
la señora Márquez Mrs Márquez;

el señor/el doctor Juárez Mr/Doctor Juárez;

los Amaya [matrimonio] Mr and Mrs Amaya, the Amayas;
[familia completa] the Amayas, the Amaya family;
los Austrias the Hapsburgs;

el Hitler español the Spanish Hitler

7. Fam [con nombre propio de persona]
llama a la María call Maria

8. [con numerales, porcentajes, fracciones]
el siete es mi número de la suerte seven's my lucky number;

llegó el tercero he came third;

el tercer piso the third floor;

un aumento del 30 por ciento a 30 percent increase;

la quinta parte (de) a fifth (of);

el 20 por ciento (de) 20 percent (of)

9. [en proporciones, precios]
100 pesos el kilo 100 pesos a o per kilo

10. [con complemento especificativo]
el/la del sombrero the one with the hat;

los/las de azul [cosas] the blue ones;
[personas] the ones in blue;
he perdido el tren, cogeré el de las nueve I've missed the train, I'll get the nine o'clock one;

el de aquí this one here;

¿los del parque son amigos tuyos? were those people in the park friends of yours?;

prefiero las del escaparate I prefer the ones in the window;

los del fondo no se callan the people at the back won't shut up

11. [con complemento posesivo]
mi hermano y el de Juan my brother and Juan's;

el mío mine;

la tuya yours;

los suyos theirs

12. [con adjetivo]
prefiero el rojo al azul I prefer the red one to the blue one;

el/la mejor the best;

es la mejor de la clase she's the best in the class, she's top of the class;

los seleccionados realizarán un examen those chosen will sit an exam;

el tonto de Ignacio se equivocó that idiot Ignacio got it wrong

13. [con infinitivo]
el beber tanto acabó con él all that drinking is what finished him off;

es amante del buen comer she loves good food;

me sienta mal el tener que decírtelo I don't like to have to tell you

14. [con frases subordinadas]
el/la que [cosa] whichever;
[persona] whoever;
los/las que [cosas] whichever;
[personas] whoever;
coge el/los que quieras take whichever you like;

el que más corra whoever runs fastest, the one who runs the fastest;

las que quieran venir que levanten la mano those who want to come o anyone who wants to come should put their hand up;

el que no te guste no quiere decir que sea malo the fact that you don't like him doesn't make him a bad person

15. [con valor enfático]
¡la pena que me dio verlo en ese estado! I felt so sorry for him when I saw him in that state!

* * *

el

I art the

II pron

:

el de … that of …;

el de Juan Juan’s;

el más grande the biggest (one);

el que está … the one that is …

* * *

él pron

: he, him

él es mi amigo: he's my friend

hablaremos con él: we will speak with him

el pron, (referring to masculine nouns)

1) : the one

tengo mi libro y el tuyo: I have my book and yours

de los cantantes me gusta el de México: I prefer the singer from México

2)

el que : he who, whoever, the one that

el que vino ayer: the one who came yesterday

el que trabaja duro estará contento: he who works hard will be happy

el, la art, pl los, las : the

los niños están en la casa: the boys are in the house

me duele el pie: my foot hurts

* * *

el det

1. the

¿qué te pareció el libro? what did you think of the book?

perdimos el tren we missed the train

2. (posesivo) my / your / his / her etcétera

me rompí el brazo I broke my arm

es el hermano de María it's María's brother

¿te has cortado el pelo? have you had your hair cut?

se puso el jersey he put his jumper on

3. (característica) the one

¿cuál prefieres? el azul which one do you prefer? the blue one

el del pelo largo the one with long hair

el de la camisa negra the one in the black shirt

me gusta el de Alejo I like Alejo's

¡Ojo! Algunas veces no se traduce

¿quieres salir el sábado? do you want to go out on Saturday?

el Sr. García Mr. García

me gusta el arroz I like rice

el que (persona) the one who / the one that (cosa) the one which / the one that

el que llegó primero the one who came first

el que me dejaste the one you lent me

el que (quienquiera) whoever

con el que that... with

el chico con el que salgo the boy that I go out with

el cuchillo con el que lo corté the knife that I cut it with

en el que that... in

el cajón en el que lo puse the drawer that I put it in

el coche en el que iban the car that they were in

Spanish-English dictionary > él
7 من

مِن \ by: (showing how sth. is done): We hold things by the handle. We know people by name. We learn by experience. We earn money by working. from: showing the time that sth. started: I waited from six o’clock till eight, showing where sth. began or was obtained Are men descended from monkeys? He read aloud from the newspaper, showing cause He suffered from stomach pains, showing the lower limit of costs, numbers, etc. New bicycles cost from $60 to $90 each, showing a change The price rose from 20 pence to 25 pence, showing difference I don’t know one from the other, showing the place that one has left He arrived from Glasgow. of: (after a noun) showing contents, amount, kind, etc.: a cup of coffee (a cup that contains coffee); a cupful of coffee (enough coffee to fill a cup); a pound of sugar (sugar that weighs a pound); a piece of bread (not a whole loaf), (after an adj. or verb) concerning; about: I’m sure of it. She’s afraid of mice, (after a verb) showing a cause He died of hunger, (after an adj.) showing who did sth. and how he did it It was kind of your father to invite me (Your father was kind...), (after a participle) showing how sth. is formed a dress made of silk. than: used in comparing two objects; here the second subject and verb are always left out: I like you better than him (I like you better than I like him), used in comparing two subjects; it is better to put in the second verb, although some writers leave it out He is taller than I (am). He runs faster than I (do). \ مِن أَجْل \ because of: as a result of: Because of his illness, he could not travel. for: because of: He jumped for joy. She was sent to prison for stealing. for sb. to do sth.: that sb. should do sth.: I’m anxious for him to pass his exams. sake, for the sake of, for sb.’s sake: for the desire of: Why ruin your health for the sake of a little pleasure?, for the good of; so as to help: Soldiers die for the sake of their county (or for their country’s sake). Don’t take any risks for my sake. towards: as a help to: He gave me $5 towards the cost of my bicycle. \ مِن أَجْل ذلك \ hence: (often with no verb) for this reason: My car broke down; hence my late arrival. \ مِن أحدث طِراز \ up to date: up to the present moment; modern; knowing or showing the latest facts: Give me an up-to-date report on political events in South America. \ مِن أَصْل \ out: from among: Ten out of the twenty people were late. \ مِن الأَفْضَل \ preferably: if possible: Any day suits me, but preferably not Sunday. \ مِن الأَفْضَل \ had better: would be wise to: You had better try again tomorrow. \ See Also الأَجْدى لِـ \ مِن الآن \ hence: from now: A week hence I shall be in Rome. \ مِن... إلى \ from... to...: (without a or the) showing passage of time, distance in space, or repeated action: He visits me from time to time. He went from house to house in search of work. \ مِن آن إلى آخر \ every now and again, every now and then: again and again, but with no regular space between. \ مِن الآن فَصَاعِدًا \ henceforth, henceforward: from now on; in future. on: onwards: From now on I shall be more careful. \ مِن البداية إلى النهاية \ through: passing from one side or place to another; making a continuous journey: a through train. \ مِن بَعْدُ \ since: after; during the period after: I saw him on Tuesday, but I haven’t seen him since. I’ve been thinking about him ever since. \ مِن بَعيد \ from afar: from a great distance. \ مِن بَين \ out of: from among: Ten out of the twenty people were late. \ مِن ثَمَّ \ subsequently: afterwards: He became ill in the winter, and subsequently died. \ مِن جَانِبٍ إِلَى آخر \ across: form one side to the other: Run across before a car comes. The river is half a mile across. over: so that a different side is upwards: Turn the page over. Roll the body over. \ مِن جَديد \ afresh: again; making a new beginning: Tear up this page and start afresh. \ مِن جَمِيع الجهَات \ around: on all sides (of); round; here and there: The boys were running around. A crowd gathered around me. \ مِن جَمِيع الوُجوه تقريبًا \ to all intents and purposes: in regard to all that matters: To all intents and purposes, the work is finished (though a few unimportant points remain to be dealt with). \ مِن جِهة \ in respect of, with respect to, respecting: concerning: a bill in respect of car repairs. on the part of: in the case of; so far as sb. is concerned: There was no mistake on her part (If there was a mistake, it was not hers). \ مِن جهة ومِن الجهة الأخرى \ on the one hand, on the other hand: comparing opposite facts or ideas; the first phrase is often left out: (On the one hand) you can live more cheaply in the country; on the other hand, work is harder to find there. \ مِن الحديد \ iron: made of iron; as strong as iron: an iron bar; an iron will. \ مِن حُسن التوفيق \ happily: fortunately: Happily, he was not hurt in the accident. a good job: a fortunate thing: It’s a good job that you crossed before the bridge fell. fortunately: adv. as the result of good fortune: He fell down but fortunately did not hurt himself. \ See Also لحسن الحظ (لِحُسْنِ الحَظّ)‏ \ مِن حَوْل \ around: on all sides (of); round; here and there: The boys were running around. A crowd gathered around me. \ مِن حَيْثُ شَخْصُهُ \ personally: as a person (in regard to character); socially: I like him personally, but I dislike his political ideas. \ مِن حِين لآخَر \ occasional: happening sometimes, but not regularly: We had an occasional quarrel. now and again, now and then: sometimes. \ مِن خِلال \ through: from one side to the other; from one end to the other: He drove a nail through (the board). A river ran through (the town). Water runs through pipes. I looked through the window, but I couldn’t see far through the mist. I read through my notes. \ مِن الدرجة الأولى \ first-class, first-rate: of the best quality: He is a first-class photographer. \ مِن سُخْرِية الأقدار \ ironic(al): (of events) like a cruel joke: It was ironical that she should break her leg just when she had at last got a job as a dancer. \ مِنَ الشرق \ eastern: belonging to the east. \ مِن صُنْعِ اليَد \ hand-made: made by hand, not by a machine: Hand-made shoes. \ مِن الضروريّ أن كما \ must: (p.t.. had to, neg.. needn’t, don’t/didn’t need to; don’t/didn’t have to) need to: You must go now, mustn’t you? Yes, I must. No, I needn’t go yet. \ مِن الطبيعيّ \ it goes without saying (that): naturally; of course: The invitation was sent to me; but it goes without saying that my wife is included. \ مِن الطراز القديم \ old-fashioned: (of people) holding on to old ideas and customs; (of things) not modern; no longer used. \ مِن طَرَف لآخر \ through: passing from one side or place to another; making a continuous journey: a through train. \ مِن عَجيب التَّقادِير \ ironic(al): (of events) like a cruel joke: It was ironical that she should break her leg just when she had at last got a job as a dancer. \ مِن عَلى ظهر السفينة \ overboard: over the side of a boat, and into the water: They jumped overboard when the ship was on fire. \ مِن غَيْر \ without: not with; not having: Without doubt, this is the best. I did it without his help. He took my bicycle without asking me. \ مِن غَيْر حَرَج \ freely: readily: They freely accepted my advice. \ مِنَ الفراء \ fur: animal skin, with the fur on it, used as clothing: a coat with a collar of fur; a fur hat. \ مِنَ الفِراش \ up: out of bed: I get up at 6.30 every morning. We stayed up very late last night. \ مِن فَضْلِك \ kindly: please!: kindly close the door!. please: (when asking) giving a polite order: Please stop that noise. A cup of coffee, please, asking for a favour or for permission Will you help me, please? Please, may I use your pen?. \ مِن فَوْق \ over: across, from one side of sth. to the other: He jumped over the fence. The gate was locked, so he climbed over. \ مِن فَوق سَطْح المَرْكَب \ overboard: over the side of a boat, and into the water: They jumped overboard when the ship was on fire. \ مِن قَبْل \ ago: before the present time: 100 years ago; a short while ago. already: before this time: She’s already married. before: at an earlier time (than): I have been here before. beforehand: before; early; in readiness: If you want your dinner early, warn the cook beforehand. \ مِن قِبَل \ by: (showing who or what did sth.): He was bitten by a dog. \ مِن قَلْبٍ مُخْلص \ heartily: thoroughly: I heartily agree with you. \ مِنَ المُؤسِف \ pity: (with a) an unfortunate fact or happening: It’s a pity that you can’t go with us to the cinema. \ مِنَ المُحَتَّم \ bound, (bind, bound) to: certain to: He’s bound to win. \ See Also المُؤَكَّد أَنّ \ مِنَ المُحْتَمَل \ likely: (usu. with very, most, more or quite) probably: She’s very likely right. well: (with may) very possibly; with good reason: He may well be late if the road is being repaired. \ مِن مُدّةٍ قريبة \ the other day: a few days ago: I met your son the other day. \ مِن المَرْتَبَة أو الدَّرَجة الثّانِية \ second-class: of the next level below that of top quality: The less comfortable second-class seats were much cheaper than the first-class ones. \ مِن المَفْروض أنّ \ be supposed to: to have a duty to; be expected to: You’re supposed to be working now, not playing. You’re not supposed to be here (You ought not be here). \ مِن مَكانٍ لآخَر \ about: from place to place in: We wandered about the town. \ مِن المُمْكِن \ could, (could not, couldn’t): (with an if clause, showing a possibility that depends on sth. else) would be able to: She could buy it if you lent her the money. possibly: perhaps: Possibly you can help. well: (with may) very possibly; with good reason: He may well be late if the road is being repaired.. \ مِنَ المُمْكِن أن \ could, (could not, couldn’t): (showing a simple possibility): You could telephone her (if you wanted to). might: expressing a weak possibility (future, present or past): She might do that tomorrow; she might be doing it at this moment; she might even have done it already (but I doubt that she has done it or ever will do it). \ مِنْ ناحية... مِنَ الناحية الأخرى \ on the one hand, on the other hand: comparing opposite facts or ideas; the first phrase is often left out: (On the one hand) you can live more cheaply in the country; on the other hand, work is harder to find there. \ مِن النّاحية النظريّة \ in theory: as an idea; according to ideas: Your plan may work in theory, but it will not work in practice. \ مِنَ النُّبَلاء \ earl: the title of a British nobleman. \ مِنَ النُّبَلاء \ noble: of high rank: a woman of noble birth. \ See Also الأشراف \ مِنْ نِتاج الوَطَن \ home-grown: (of food) grown in one’s own country, not in another country: home-grown vegetables. \ مِنْ نُسْخَتَين \ in duplicate: on two separate copies: Please complete this list in duplicate. \ مِنْ نَسْل \ descendant: sb. who is descended from a person: a descendant of Queen Victoria. \ See Also ذرية (ذُرِّيَّة)‏ \ مِنْ نَفْس البَلَد \ countryman, countrymen: (usu. fellow countryman) a person of the same nation as another. \ مِنْ نوع راق \ classical: of proved and lasting value: classical music. \ مَنْ هُم أَعْلَى مقَامًا \ betters, one’s betters: those who have more experience or higher rank than onself: Treat your betters with more respect. \ See Also أَرْفَع شَأنًا مِن \ مِن هُنَا \ away: (with verbs of movement) to a distance: Go away! We drove the dog away. by: past: Please let me (get) by. He smiled as he went by. \ مَن هو أَعْلَى دَرَجَةً \ superior: sb. of higher rank: You must obey your superiors. \ مِن واجبه أن \ up to: the duty of: It’s up to his father to punish him. \ مِن وَاحِد إلى آخَر \ over: across, from one person to another: She handed over the keys to a friend. \ مِن الواضح \ much: (in comparison; before most, etc.) without doubt; clearly: He is much the most experienced player in the team. \ مِن وَراءِ ظَهْرِه \ behind sb.’s back: when someone is not present: He tells untrue stories about me behind my back. \ مِن وَقْت لاِخَر \ now and again: sometimes. off and on, on and off: not continuously; at one time and another: It has been raining off and on the whole day. sometimes: at certain times but not always: Sometimes I win and sometimes I don’t. England sometimes has a hot summer, but not often.

Arabic-English dictionary > من
8 في

في \ a; an; each; every: twice a day; 80 miles an hour. at: (showing where): at home; at the office, (showing a point of time) at midday; at 4 o’clock; He was married at 18, (after an adj) good at English; quick at sums. by: during: We travelled by night. in: showing where: In bed; in London; in the box; in his speech, showing condition In a hurry; in trouble, showing a direction; into He fell in the river. He put his hand in his pocket, showing when; during In the past; in January 1980; in the evening, showing what sth. contains or includes There are 60 minutes in an hour. Is he in your team?, showing what sb. wears He was in his best suit, showing a shape or arrangement They stood in a row, showing employment or activity or an event He’s in the navy. She was killed in the accident. on: showing when: on Monday; on May the 6th. showing the state of sb.:: Are you here on business or on holiday?. per: for each: He earns $8000 per annum (for each year). \ في (أيّ مَكَان)‏ \ anywhere: in or to any place: Are you going anywhere?. \ See Also إلى( إلى)‏ \ في \ home: to or at one’s house: Go home! Is your son home yet?. \ See Also إلى البيت \ في \ inside: on (or to) the inside. \ See Also إلى الداخل \ في \ inland: away from the sea: We crossed the coast and flew inland. \ See Also إلى داخل البلاد \ في \ indoors: into (or in) a building: He went (or He stayed) indoors because of the rain. \ See Also إلى داخل البيت \ في \ on board: on (or onto) a ship or aeroplane: There are 70 men on board. Can I go on board the aircraft?. \ See Also إلى دَاخِل الطَّائِرَة \ في \ upstairs: on, at or to a higher floor; up the stairs; at the top of the stairs: She went upstairs because her room is upstairs. She has an upstairs bedroom. \ See Also إلى الدَّور الأَعْلى \ في \ low: to or in a low position: The sun had sunk low in the sky. \ See Also إلى وَضْع مُنْخفِض \ في \ whereabouts: in or near which place: Whereabouts did you find this ring?. \ See Also قرب أيّ مكان؟ \ في \ upstream: against the flow of the stream; up the river: They rowed (the boat) upstream. \ See Also نَحْوَ أعلى النَّهر \ في الاتجاه المعاكس \ backward(s): towards the back: He fell over backwards. \ في أَثَر \ after: following, in search of: I ran after him but could not catch him. The police are after him. \ في أثناء الخِدْمَة (خارج أوقات الخِدمة)‏ \ on duty, (off duty): at work (not at work): The night nurse has 12 hours on duty, then 12 hours off duty. She went on duty at 18.00 and came off duty at 06.00. \ في أثناء ذلك \ meanwhile, meantime: (in) the time between: You’ll have to wait till he’s ready; but you can read this (in the) meanwhile. \ في إجازة \ off: free from work: My employer gave me the afternoon off. \ See Also عطلة (عُطْلَة)‏ \ في أَحْسَن الأَحْوَال \ at best: in the most hopeful conditions: At best, we can’t be ready till Tuesday. \ في آخر \ eventually: in the end: The car kept stopping, but we got home eventually. ultimately: in the end: We must all, ultimately, die. \ See Also نهاية الأمر \ في آخر رَمَق \ on one’s last legs: (of a person or thing) not expected to last much longer; worn out; almost in ruins: That company is on its last legs. \ في آخر لحظة \ in the nick of time: just in time; almost too late: She saved him in the nick of time from falling over the cliff. \ في أَرْجَاء \ about: from place to place in: We wandered about the town. round: (also around) from place to place: He wandered (a)round (the town). We travelled (a)round (the country). \ في أَسْفَل \ under: (also underneath), in a lower position. underneath: (of position) below: It was hidden underneath the floor boards. \ See Also الأسفل (الأَسْفَل)‏ \ في الأَصْل \ originally: in the beginning: This school was originally a rich man’s home. \ في الأَعْلَى \ up: in or to higher position: She lives up in the hills. \ في أغلب الظَّنّ \ doubtless: probably: It will doubtless rain on the day of the garden party. \ في أَفْضَل حَالَة \ at one’s best: in one’s best state: My garden is at its best in spring. \ في أقلّ مِن \ within: in less than: He will arrive within an hour. I live within a mile of the sea. \ في الأمام \ in front: at the front: You go in front and I’ll follow. \ في أَوَاخِر \ late: near the end of a period of time: Late in the year; in the late afternoon. \ في الأوْج \ in full swing: (of an activity) at its highest point; very busy: The party was in full swing when I arrived. \ في أوجِ الإزْهَار \ in bloom: flowering: The roses are in bloom now. \ في أيّ مَكَان \ anywhere: in no matter what place: Put it down anywhere. \ في أيّ وقت \ ever: (esp. in a negative sentence or a question) at any time: Nobody ever writes to me. Have you ever been to Rome? If you ever go there, you must see St. Peter’s cathedral. \ في أيّ وقت مَضَى \ ever: (in a comparative sentence) at any time: He’s working harder than ever. This is the best book I’ve ever read. \ في بادئ الأمر \ at first: at the beginning: At first the new school seemed strange, but then we got used to it. \ في البَدْء \ primarily: mainly; in the first place: This book is written primarily for foreigners. \ See Also أصلا (أَصْلاً)، أساسا (أساسًا)‏ \ في بعض الوقت \ part-time: for only part of the usual working time: She’s a part-time teacher. \ في البيت \ at home: in one’s house: He’s at home in the evenings. \ في البيت المُجَاوِر \ next, next door: in the next house: He lives next door. He is my nextdoor neighbour. \ في تَحَسُّن (من النّاحية الصحّية)‏ \ on the mend: getting better in health (after an illness). \ في تِلْكَ الحالةِ \ in that case: if that happens, or has happened: He may be late. In that case, we shall go without him, if that happens, or has happened He may be late. In that case, we shall go without him. \ في تِلْكَ اللَّحظة \ just: (with continuous tenses; always directly before the present participle) at this moment; at that moment: We’re just starting dinner. We were just starting dinner when he arrived. \ في التَّوّ \ straight away: at once. \ في جانب \ in favour of: supporting: I’m in favour of your plans. \ في الجَانِب الآخَر مِن \ across: on the other side of: My home is across the river. \ في جانب \ for: in favour of: Are you for this idea or against it?. \ See Also صف (صَفّ)‏ \ في جزء أدنى مِن \ down: at a lower level: My house is a little way down the hill. \ في الجِوَار \ about: around; near: There’s a lot of illness about. I went out early, when no one was about (when no one else was out). \ في الحَال \ at once: without delay: Stop that at once!. away: right away; straight away. immediately: at once. instantly: at once. on the spot: in that place and at that moment: He gave me the bill and I paid it on the spot. readily: without delay: The book you need is not readily obtainable. straight away: at once. \ في حَالَةِ \ at: (showing a state): at war; at play. on: showing the state of sth.: The house is on fire. \ في حَالَة حَسَنَة \ well, (better, best): the opposite of ill and unwell; in good health: Don’t you feel well? You’ll soon get better if you drink this medicine. How are you? Very well, thank you. I feel best in the early morning (better than at any other time). \ في حَالَة سَيِّئَة \ in a bad way: in a bad state. \ في حَالَة عَدَم توفُّر \ failing: giving a second choice of action, if the first choice fails: Ask John to do it. Failing him, ask Michael. \ في حَالَة فَوْضَى \ chaotic: in a state of chaos: The young teacher had a chaotic classroom. \ في حَالَةِ وُجُود \ in case of: in the event of; if there is: In case of fire, ring the bell. \ في حَالَةِ ما إِذَا \ in case: because of the possibility of sth. happening: Take a stick, in case you meet a snake. \ في حركة دائِمة \ on the move: moving; travelling: He’s always on the move and never settles for long. \ في الحَقِيقَة \ as a matter of fact, in fact: really; in truth: The dog seemed dead but in fact it was only asleep. As a matter of fact, I don’t like Michael. in point of fact: actually, in fact. in reality: in fact. really: truly; in fact: Is he really your son? He does not look like you!. \ في حَيْرَة من أَمْره \ at one’s wits’ end: too worried by difficulties to know what to do. \ في حين \ whereas: but: They are looking for a house, whereas we would rather live in a flat. \ في حينه \ round: following a regular course: Wait till your turn comes round. \ في الخَارِج \ abroad: in or to another country: I spent my holiday abroad. out: in (or into) the open; away from shelter; in (or into) view: Don’t stand out in the rain. The ship was far out at sea. out of door, outdoors: in the open air; not in a house: I like sleeping out of doors under the stars. outside: not within; in the open air; on the outer side: It’s raining outside. The cup is blue outside, and white inside. overseas: across the sea; (to the British, the mainland of Europe is abroad but it is not overseas): She is working overseas, in South America. \ في خِدمَة... \ at one’s service: ready to fulfil one’s needs: The hotel car is at your service if you want to go anywhere. \ في خَريف العُمر \ middle-aged: neither young nor old; aged between about 40 and 65. \ في خطٍّ مُستقيم \ as the crow flies: in a straight line: It is 5 miles away by road, but only 2 miles as the crow flies. \ فِي الخَفَاء \ stealth: by stealth using secret and quiet action: He got into the house by stealth, not by force. \ في خِلال \ in: showing a space of time before sth. will happen; after: I’ll come in a few days (or in a minute). in the course of: during: In the course of the morning I had seven visitors. \ في الدّاخل \ in: in a building, esp. at home, work or where one is expected to be: Is anyone in? I’m afraid Mr. Jones is out, but he’ll be in at 5 o’clock. \ في داخِل \ in: showing a direction; into: He fell in the river. He put his hand in his pocket. inside: on (or to) the inside of: Please wait inside the room. \ في داخِل النَّفْس \ inwardly: secretly; as regards one’s inner feelings: I was inwardly delighted, but I pretended not to care. \ في دَرَجَة الغَلَيان \ on the boil: boiling; at this heat. \ في ذلك المكان \ there: at that place: I live there. \ في رأيي \ to my mind: in my opinion: To my mind, this is most dishonest. \ في سَبِيل \ in the process of: to be doing: I am in the process of painting my house. sake, for the sake, of, for sb.’s sake: for the good of; so as to help: Soldiers die for the sake of their county (or for their country’s sake). Don’t take any risks for my sake, for the desire of Why ruin your health for the sake of a little pleasure?. \ في سِنّ المُرَاهَقَة \ teenage: in one’s teens: a teenage girl. \ في شكّ \ in doubt: uncertain: When in doubt, ask your father. \ في صحَّة جيِّدة \ fit: healthy: We take exercise so as to keep fit. \ في صَفّ \ in single file: in one line, one behind the other: We had to ride in single file down the narrow path. \ في الطّابِق الأَسْفل \ downstairs: at the bottom of the stairs; in a room at that level: I’ll wait for you downstairs. \ في الطّابِق الفوقانيّ \ overhead: above one’s head: a noise in the room overhead; clouds in the sky overhead. \ في طَرَف \ up: along (up and down are both used like this, although the course may be quite level): He lives just up the road. \ في طريق النُّور \ in sb.’s light: preventing light from reaching him: I can’t read if you stand in my light. \ في الظّاهر \ outwardly: as regards the appearance (compared with the hidden facts or inner feelings): She was outwardly calm but inwardly full of anger. \ في العَام \ annual: happening every year; of a year: an annual feast; the annual production of oil. \ في عَجلة من أمره \ in a hurry: Ants are always in a hurry. \ في العَرَاء \ in the open: outside in the air: I like to sleep out in the open, under she stars. outdoors, out of doors: the open air; not in a building: Go outdoors and play football. \ في (عُرض) البَحْر \ at sea: on the sea; far from land: a storm at sea. \ في عُطلة \ on holiday, on vacation: having a holiday: The schools are on holiday. We’re going on vacation to the sea. \ See Also إجازة( إجازة)‏ \ في غابر الأزمان (كان يا ما كان...)‏ \ once upon a time: (used at the beginning of stories). \ في الغَالِب \ mainly: chiefly; mostly. \ في غالِب الظنّ \ probably: almost certainly; with little doubt: You’re probably right. \ في غاية الجُنون \ raving mad: noisily and violently mad. \ في غَمْضَة عَيْن \ in no time: very quickly; very soon: If you follow this path, you’ll get there in no time. \ في غِيَابِه \ behind sb.’s back: when someone is not present: He tells untrue stories about me behind my back. \ في كُلٍّ \ a; an; each; every: twice a day. 80 miles an hour. ten pence a packet. \ في كل مكان \ everywhere: in all places: I’ve looked for it everywhere. \ في كل وقت \ ever: at all times; always: I shall stay there for ever. \ في لحظة خاطفة \ in a flash: very quickly and suddenly: He seized the money and was gone in a flash. \ في اللحظة المناسبة \ in the nick of time: just in time; almost too late: She saved him in the nick of time from falling over the cliff. \ في اللَّيْل \ at night: during the night. overnight: for the night: I shall stay at a hotel overnight and come back tomorrow, on the night before; during the night I packed my suitcase overnight, so as to be ready to leave at sunrise. His car was stolen overnight. \ في المائَة \ per cent: for, out, of, each hundred: Six per cent of the boys failed the exam, (one part) of each hundred I’m a 100 per cent in agreement with you. About 70 per cent (written as 70%) of the people are farmers. \ في المُتَنَاوَل \ forthcoming: supplied when needed: We wanted a new school clock, but the money was not forthcoming. \ في مُتَناوَل \ within: inside; not beyond; within reach; within one’s powers. \ في متناول اليَد \ at hand: near; within reach: Help was at hand. handy: near; easily reached when wanted: Keep that book handy so that you can look at it often. \ في مَجْمُوعَة بين \ among(st): in the middle of; mixed with; surrounded by: I found this letter among my books. There is a secret enemy amongst us. \ في مِحْنة خَطَر \ in distress: (of a ship or aeroplane) in dangerous trouble; needing help. \ في المُدّة الأخيرة \ lately: not long ago; in the near past: Have you seen her lately?. \ في المرَّة التالية \ next: the next time: I’ll give it to you when I next see you. \ See Also القادمة \ في مُقَابِل \ for: showing that something is as a return or in place of: I gave him $5 for his help. Will you change this old car for a new one?. in return (for): in exchange or payment for: Give her some flowers in return for her kindness. \ في المقام الأوّل \ firstly: as the first reason, fact, etc: I need a hot drink. Firstly, because I’m cold; secondly, because I’m thirsty. \ في المقدمة \ in front: at the front: You go in front and I’ll follow. \ في مَكَان \ in sb,’s stead: in sb.’s place; instead of sb.. \ See Also بدلا من (بدلاً من)‏ \ في مَكَان آخَر \ elsewhere: in some other place. \ في المَكَان \ in position: in the correct position. \ See Also المَوضِع الصَّحيح \ في مَكَان قَريب \ by: near: He stood by and watched them. \ في مَكَانٍ ما \ somewhere: in or to some place (but usu. anywhere in negative sentences and questions): I’ve met him somewhere before. Let’s go somewhere peaceful (to some peaceful place). \ في المكان والزّمان المذكورين \ on the spot: in that place and at that moment: Fortunately a doctor was on the spot when she broke her leg. \ في مكانه \ belong: to be in the right place: This book belongs on the top shelf. \ See Also موضِعِه المناسب \ في مَلْعَبِه \ at home: (of a match) on one’s own field: Our team are playing at home tomorrow. \ في مُنْتَصَف الطَّريق \ midway: halfway; in the middle: The station is midway between the two villages. \ في مَوعِد لاَ يَتَجَاوَز \ by: before; not later than: Can you finish this by Tuesday? They ought to be here by now. \ في المَوْعِد المحدَّد \ on time: exactly at the appointed moment: The bus always leaves on time. \ في مياه أعمق من قَامَته \ out of one’s depth: in water that is too deep to stand up in: Don’t go out of your depth unless you can swim. \ في النّادِر \ rarely: not often; hardly at all: She rarely smokes. \ في نظر \ in the eyes of: in the opinion of: In his mother’s eyes he can do no wrong. \ في نَظَري \ to my mind: in my opinion: To my mind, this is most dishonest. \ في النّهايَة \ at last: in the end, after much delay: The train was very slow, but we got there at last. at length: at last; in the end: He waited two hours. At length he went home. finally: lastly; in the end. \ في نِهايَة الأمْر \ in the long run: after a period of time; in the end: It’ll be cheaper in the long run to buy good quality shoes. \ See Also عَلَى المدى الطويل \ في هذا الوقت \ now: (in a written account) at the time that is being described: The war was now over. \ في هَذا المَكَان \ about: here: Is anyone about?. \ في هذه الأَثْنَاء \ meanwhile, meantime: (in) the time between: You’ll have to wait till he’s ready; but you can read this (in the) meanwhile. \ في هذه الأَيَّام \ nowadays: in these times (compared with the past): Travel is much easier nowadays. today: the present time: the scientists of today. \ في هذه الحالة \ all right: (also alright), in that case: You don’t want it? All right, I’ll give it to someone else. \ في هذه اللَّحْظَة \ just: (with continuous tenses; always directly before the present participle) at this moment; at that moment: We’re just starting dinner. We were just starting dinner when he arrived. just now: at this moment: I’m busy just now. \ في الهواء الطَّلْق \ in the open: outside in the air: I like to sleep out in the open, under the stars. out of doors, outdoors: in the open air; not in a house: I like sleeping out of doors under the stars. outdoors, out of doors: the open air; not in a building: Go outdoors and play football. \ في الوَاقِع \ in reality: in fact. \ في الوَاقِع \ actually: in fact; really: She looks about thirty, but actually she’s thirty-nine. as a matter of fact, in fact: really; in truth: The dog seemed dead but in fact it was only asleep. As a matter of fact, I don’t like Michael. in point of fact: actually, in fact. truly: really: Are you truly sorry for your crimes?. virtually: actually but not officially: He was virtually a prisoner in his home, as he did not dare to go out while the police were watching. \ في الوَسَط \ halfway: between two places and at an equal distance from them: His house is halfway between yours and mine. \ في وَسْط المسافة \ halfway: between two places and at an equal distance from them: His house is halfway between yours and mine. \ في وَضَح (النهار)‏ \ broad: (of daylight) full; complete: The bank was robbed in broad daylight. \ في وَضع لا يجوز فيه رَكْل الكُرة \ offside: (of a player in football, etc.) breaking a rule by being in a position in which play is not allowed. \ في الوَقْت الحَاضِر \ at present: now; at the present time: At present I have no job, but I shall get one soon. for the time being: for the present: I have no job, but I’m helping my father for the time being. now: at the present time: Where are you working now? Now is the time to plant those seeds. today: the present time: the scientists of today. \ في وَقْتٍ لاَحِق \ after: later: She came first and he arrived soon after. \ في وقتٍ ما \ sometime: (often two words, some time) at a time not exactly known or stated: Come again sometime. He left sometime after dinner. \ في وقتٍ متأخر \ late: after the proper or usual time; not early: We always go to bed very late. He arrived too late for dinner. \ في وقتٍ متأخر مِن \ late: near the end of a period of time: Late in the year; in the late afternoon. \ في الوَقْتِ المُقَرَّر \ round: following a regular course: Wait till your turn comes round. \ في وَقْتٍ من الأوقات \ ever: (esp. in a negative sentence or a question) at any time: Nobody ever writes to me. Have you ever been to Rome? If you ever go there, you must see St. Peter’s cathedral. \ في الوَقْتِ المناسب \ early: in good time for one’s purpose; before the fixed time: We arrived early and got the best seats. in due course: later; after a reasonable delay: He will get better in due course. in good time: slightly early: He came in good time for the meeting. \ في وقت واحد \ at a time: together: They arrived three at a time (in groups of three). \ في يوم من الأيام \ once upon a time: (used at the beginning of stories). \ See Also كان يا ما كان

Arabic-English dictionary > في
9 devoir

devoir [d(ə)vwaʀ]

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1. transitive verb

2. auxiliary verb

3. reflexive verb

4. masculine noun

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➭ TABLE 28

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► The past participle dû takes a circumflex to distinguish it from the article du. Only the masculine singular has this accent.

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1. <

to owe

• devoir qch à qn to owe sb sth

• elle lui doit 200 € she owes him 200 euros

• c'est à son courage qu'elle doit la vie she owes her life to his courage

• je dois à mes parents d'avoir réussi I owe my success to my parents

• c'est à lui que l'on doit cette découverte it is to him that we owe this discovery

• devoir obéissance à qn to owe sb obedience

• il lui doit bien cela ! it's the least he can do for him!

• à qui doit-on la découverte du radium ? who discovered radium?

• il ne veut rien devoir à personne he doesn't want to be indebted to anyone

2. <

   a. (obligation)

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► Lorsque devoir exprime une obligation, il se traduit généralement par to have (got) to lorsqu'il s'agit de contraintes extérieures ; notez que to have got to ne s'utilise qu'au présent. must a généralement une valeur plus impérative ; must étant défectif, on utilise to have to aux temps où il ne se conjugue pas.

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• je ne peux pas aller au cinéma, je dois travailler I can't go to the cinema, I've got to work

• si je rentre tard, je dois téléphoner à ma mère if I stay out late, I have to phone my mother

• je dois téléphoner à ma mère ! I must phone my mother!

• Stéphanie doit partir ce soir Stéphanie has to go tonight

• Martin avait promis, il devait le faire Martin had promised, so he had to do it

• David a cru devoir accepter David thought he should agree

• dois-je comprendre par là que... am I to understand from this that...

   b. (conseil)

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► Lorsque devoir est au conditionnel et qu'il exprime une suggestion, il se traduit par should.

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• tu devrais t'habiller plus chaudement you should dress more warmly

• il aurait dû la prévenir he should have warned her

   c. (fatalité)

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► Lorsque devoir exprime une fatalité, il se traduit généralement par to be bound to.

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• nos chemins devaient se croiser un jour ou l'autre our paths were bound to cross some time

• cela devait arriver ! it was bound to happen!

• les choses semblent devoir s'arranger things seem to be sorting themselves out

• elle ne devait pas les revoir vivants she was never to see them alive again

   d. (prévision)

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► Lorsque devoir exprime une prévision, il est souvent traduit par to be going to.

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• elle doit vous téléphoner demain she's going to ring you tomorrow

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► Notez l'emploi de to be due to dans les contextes où la notion de temps est importante.

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• son train doit or devrait arriver dans cinq minutes his train is due to arrive in five minutes

• Antoinette devait partir à six heures mais la réunion s'est prolongée Antoinette was due to leave at six but the meeting went on longer

   e. (hypothèse)

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► Lorsque devoir exprime une hypothèse, il se traduit par must dans les phrases affirmatives.

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• il doit faire froid ici en hiver it must be cold here in winter

• il a dû se tromper de chemin he must have lost his way

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► Au conditionnel, on utilise should.

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• ça devrait pouvoir se faire it should be feasible

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► Dans les phrases négatives, on utilise généralement can't.

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• elle ne doit pas être bête she can't be stupid

• il ne doit pas faire chaud en hiver it can't be warm in winter

3. <

► se devoir

• les époux se doivent fidélité husband and wife have a duty to be faithful to one another► se devoir de ( = être obligé de)

nous nous devons de le lui dire it is our duty to tell him

• je me devais d'essayer I had to try for my own sake► comme il se doit

• j'en ai informé mon chef, comme il se doit I informed my boss, of course

• on a fêté l'événement, comme il se doit and naturally, we celebrated the event

4. <

   a. ( = obligation) duty

• faire son devoir to do one's duty

• agir par devoir to act from a sense of duty

• se faire un devoir de faire qch to make it one's duty to do sth

• il est de mon devoir de... it is my duty to...

   b. (scolaire) ( = dissertation) essay ; ( = exercice fait en classe) exercise ; (fait à la maison) homework uncount

• faire ses devoirs to do one's homework

• devoirs de vacances holiday homework

• devoir surveillé or sur table written test

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Note: Lorsque devoir est utilisé comme auxiliaire pour exprimer une obligation posée comme directive, une recommandation, une hypothèse ou un objectif, il se traduit par must suivi de l'infinitif sans to: je dois finir ma traduction aujourd'hui = I must finish my translation today; tu dois avoir faim! = you must be hungry!

Lorsqu'il exprime une obligation imposée par les circonstances extérieures, il se traduit par to have suivi de l'infinitif: je dois me lever tous les matins à sept heures = I have to get up at seven o'clock every morning

Les autres sens du verbe auxiliaire, et devoir verbe transitif et verbe pronominal, sont présentés ci-dessous

I
1. dəvwɑʀ
verbe auxiliaire

1) (obligation, recommandation, hypothèse)

tu dois te brosser les dents au moins deux fois par jour — you must brush your teeth at least twice a day

je dois aller travailler — I've got to go to work

il a dû accepter — ( obligation) he had to accept; ( hypothèse) he must have accepted

tu ne dois pas montrer du doigt! — you shouldn't point!

ces mesures doivent permettre une amélioration du niveau de vie — these measures should allow an improvement in the standard of living

il doit absolument éviter l'alcool — it's imperative that he avoid alcohol, he really must avoid alcohol

je dois dire/reconnaître que cela ne m'étonne pas — I have to ou I must say/admit I'm not surprised

elle ne doit pas être fière! — she must be ashamed of herself

je devais avoir 12 ans à ce moment-là — I must have been 12 at the time

ils doivent arriver d'une minute à l'autre — they're due to arrive any minute

2) ( être dans la nécessité de)

l'entreprise va devoir fermer — the company will have to close

dois-je prendre un parapluie? — do I need to take an umbrella?

dussé-je en mourir — liter even if I die for it

il a cru devoir partir — he felt obliged to leave

3) ( exprime une prévision)

elles devaient en parler — they were to talk about it

le contrat doit être signé à 16 h — the contract is to be signed at 4 pm

à quelle heure doit-il rentrer? — what time should he be home?

je dois m'absenter prochainement — I'll have to leave shortly

4) ( exprime la fatalité)

ce qui devait arriver arriva — the inevitable happened

cela devait arriver — it was bound ou it had to happen

nous devons tous mourir un jour — we all have to die some day

elle devait mourir dans un accident de voiture — she was to die in a car crash

2.

verbe transitif

1) ( avoir à payer) to owe [argent, repas]

devoir quelque chose à quelqu'un — to owe something to somebody, to owe somebody something

combien vous dois-je? — ( pour un service) how much do I owe you?; ( pour un achat) how much is it?

2) ( être redevable de)

devoir quelque chose à quelqu'un — to owe something to somebody, to owe somebody something

je te dois d'avoir gagné — it's thanks to you that I won

3) ( avoir une obligation morale)

devoir quelque chose à quelqu'un — to owe somebody something

il me doit des excuses — he owes me an apology

3.

se devoir verbe pronominal

1) ( avoir une obligation morale)

se devoir à quelqu'un/son pays — to have a duty to somebody/one's country

2) ( réciproquement)

les époux se doivent fidélité — spouses owe it to each other to be faithful

3) ( par convention)

un homme de son rang se doit d'avoir un chauffeur — a man of his standing has to have a chauffeur

4.

comme il se doit locution adverbiale

1) ( comme le veut l'usage)

faire quelque chose/agir comme il se doit — to do something/to act in the correct way

2) ( comme prévu)

comme il se doit, elle est en retard! — as you might expect, she's late!

II dəvwɑʀ
nom masculin ( obligation morale) duty

faire son devoir — to do one's duty

le devoir m'appelle! — duty calls!

il est de mon devoir de — it's my duty to; École ( exercice fait en classe) test; ( fait à la maison) homework [U]

Phrasal Verbs:

- devoir surveillé or sur table

* * *
d(ə)vwaʀ
1. nm

1) (= obligation) duty

Aller voter fait partie des devoirs du citoyen. — Voting is part of one's duty as a citizen.

se faire un devoir de faire qch — to make it one's duty to do sth

2) ÉDUCATION (à faire chez soi) piece of homework, homework no pl (à faire en classe) exercise

faire ses devoirs — to do one's homework

2. vt

1) (= être redevable de) [argent] to owe

devoir qch à qn [argent, respect] — to owe sb sth

Combien est-ce que je vous dois? — How much do I owe you?

devoir à qn de faire qch — to owe it to sb to do sth

Je lui dois de régler cette affaire le plus rapidement possible. — I owe it to him to sort this matter out as quickly as possible.

2) (obligation)

devoir faire qch — to have to do sth

Il doit le faire tout de suite. — He has to do it immediately., He must do it immediately.

Je dois partir. — I've got to go., I must go.

3) (au conditionnel)

je devrais faire... — I ought to do..., I should do...

Tu n'aurais pas dû... — You ought not to have..., You shouldn't have...

4) (fatalité)

devoir se produire — to be bound to happen

Cela devait arriver un jour. — It was bound to happen some day.

5) (intention)

devoir faire qch — to be due to do sth

Il doit partir demain. — He is to leave tomorrow., He is due to leave tomorrow.

Le nouveau centre commercial doit ouvrir en mai. — The new shopping centre is due to open in May.

6) (probabilité)

Il doit être tard. — It must be late.

Tu dois être fatigué. — You must be tired.

* * *

I.

devoir

A nm

1 ( obligation morale) duty; avoir le sens du devoir to have a sense of duty; homme/femme de devoir man/woman of conscience; agir par devoir to act out of a sense of duty; faire son devoir to do one's duty; je n'ai fait que mon devoir I only did my duty;

2 ( obligation imposée par la loi ou les convenances) duty; manquer à tous ses devoirs to fail in all one's duties; le devoir m'appelle! duty calls!; se faire un devoir de faire to make it one's duty to do; il est de mon devoir de it's my duty to; se mettre en devoir de faire qch to set about doing sth; voter est un droit, c'est aussi un devoir voting is not only a right, but also a duty; ⇒ réserve;

3 Scol ( exercice écrit) ( fait en classe) test; ( fait à la maison) homework ¢; faire ses devoirs to do one's homework; fais tes devoirs avant d'aller jouer do your homework before going out to play; j'ai un devoir d'anglais demain I've got an English test tomorrow; j'ai un devoir à rendre pour lundi I have a piece of homework to hand in on Monday.

B † devoirs nmpl ( hommages) respects; présenter ses devoirs à qn to pay one's respects to sb; les derniers devoirs rendus à qn the last respects paid to sb.

Composés

devoir d'ingérence Pol duty to interfere in the affairs of another nation; devoir surveillé or sur table Scol written test; devoir de vacances holiday homework (done from workbooks).

II.

devoir verb table: devoir

❢ Lorsque devoir est utilisé comme auxiliaire pour exprimer une obligation posée comme directive, une recommandation, une hypothèse ou un objectif, il se traduit par must suivi de l'infinitif sans to: je dois finir ma traduction aujourd'hui = I must finish my translation today; tu dois avoir faim! = you must be hungry!Lorsqu'il exprime une obligation imposée par les circonstances extérieures, il se traduit par to have suivi de l'infinitif: je dois me lever tous les matins à sept heures = I have to get up at seven o'clock every morning.

Les autres sens du verbe auxiliaire, et devoir verbe transitif et verbe pronominal, sont présentés ci-dessous.

A v aux

1 (obligation, recommandation, hypothèse) tu dois te brosser les dents au moins deux fois par jour you must brush your teeth at least twice a day; je dois aller travailler I've got to go to work; je devais aller travailler I had to go to work; il doit accepter he has got to accept; il a dû accepter ( obligation) he had to accept; ( hypothèse) he must have accepted; tu ne dois pas montrer du doigt! you shouldn't point!; ces mesures doivent permettre une amélioration du niveau de vie these measures should allow an improvement in the standard of living; le texte doit pouvoir être compris de tous the text should be comprehensible to everyone; il doit absolument éviter l'alcool it's imperative that he avoid alcohol, he really must avoid alcohol; je dois dire/reconnaître que cela ne m'étonne pas I have to ou I must say/admit I'm not surprised; je dois avouer que j'ai hésité I have to ou must admit I did hesitate; vous devrez être attentif à cela you'll have to ou you must watch out for that; tu devrais réfléchir avant de parler you should think before you speak; on devrait mettre cet enfant au lit this child ought to be put to bed; elle ne doit pas être fière! she must be ashamed of herself!; ils ne doivent plus lui faire confiance they can't trust him any more; je devais avoir 12 ans à ce moment-là I must have been 12 at the time; ils doivent arriver d'une minute à l'autre they're due to arrive any minute;

2 ( être dans la nécessité de) l'entreprise va devoir fermer the company will have to close, the company is going to have to close; encore doivent-elles faire leurs preuves they still have to prove themselves; dois-je prendre un parapluie? should I take an umbrella?, do I need to take an umbrella?; dussé-je en mourir liter even if I die for it; il a cru devoir partir he felt obliged to leave;

3 ( exprime une prévision) elles devaient en parler they were to talk about it; le contrat doit être signé à 16 heures the contract is to be signed at 4 pm; cet argent devait rester disponible this money was to have remained available; à quelle heure doit-il rentrer? what time should he be home?; à quoi doivent-ils s'attendre ensuite? what are they to expect next?; nous ne devons pas partir cet été we're not intending to go away this summer; je dois le voir demain I'll be seeing him tomorrow; je dois m'absenter prochainement I'll have to leave shortly; nous devions partir quand il s'est mis à pleuvoir we were about to leave when it started raining, we should have left but it started raining;

4 ( exprime la fatalité) 10 ans plus tard, il devait sombrer dans la pauvreté 10 years later, he was to be found languishing in poverty; ce qui devait arriver arriva the inevitable happened; cela devait arriver it had ou it was bound to happen; nous devons tous mourir un jour we all have to die some day; elle devait mourir dans un accident de voiture she was to die in a car crash.

B vtr

1 ( avoir à payer) to owe [argent, repas]; devoir qch à qn to owe sth to sb, to owe sb sth; il déteste devoir de l'argent he hates owing money; combien vous dois-je? ( pour un service) how much do I owe you?; ( pour un achat) how much is it?; j'ai payé la veste mais je dois encore la jupe I've paid for the jacket but I haven't paid for the skirt yet;

2 ( être redevable de) devoir qch à qn to owe sth to sb, to owe sb sth; devoir qch à qch to owe sth to sth ; il doit tout à sa femme he owes it all to his wife; je te dois d'avoir gagné it's thanks to you that I won; c'est à votre générosité que nous devons de ne pas être morts de faim it's thanks to your generosity that we didn't die of hunger; ⇒ chandelle;

3 ( avoir une obligation morale) devoir qch à qn to owe sb sth; il me doit des excuses he owes me an apology.

C se devoir vpr

1 ( avoir une obligation morale) se devoir à qn/son pays to have a duty to sb/one's country; je me dois de le faire it's my duty to do it, I have a duty to do it;

2 ( réciproquement) les époux se doivent fidélité spouses owe it to each other to be faithful;

3 ( par convention) un homme de son rang se doit d'avoir un chauffeur a man of his standing has to have a chauffeur.

D comme il se doit loc adv

1 ( comme le veut l'usage) faire qch/agir comme il se doit to do sth/to act in the correct way; il plaça les convives comme il se doit he seated the guests as was proper;

2 ( comme prévu) comme il se doit, elle est en retard! as you might expect, she's late!

I

[dəvwar] nom masculin

1. ÉDUCATION assignment, exercise

devoir de chimie chemistry assignment ou exercise

devoir de français French essay

faire ses devoirs to do one's homework

devoir sur table (written) class test

devoirs de vacances holiday (UK) ou vacation (US) homework

2. [impératifs moraux] duty

le devoir m'appelle duty calls

je ne l'ai prévenu que par devoir I warned him only because I thought it was my duty

3. [tâche à accomplir] duty, obligation

faire ou accomplir ou remplir son devoir to carry out ou to do one's duty

avoir le devoir de to have the duty to

se faire un devoir de faire quelque chose to make it one's duty to do something

se mettre en devoir de faire quelque chose to set about (doing) something

devoir conjugal conjugal duties

————————

devoirs nom masculin pluriel

rendre les derniers devoirs à quelqu'un to pay somebody a final homage ou tribute

rendre ses devoirs à quelqu'un to pay one's respects to somebody

————————

de devoir locution adjectivale

homme/femme de devoir man/woman with a (strong) sense of duty

————————

du devoir de locution prépositionnelle

il est du devoir de tout citoyen de voter it is the duty of every citizen to vote

j'ai cru de mon devoir de l'aider I felt duty-bound to help him

II

[dəvwar] verbe auxiliaire

1. [exprime l'obligation]

il doit he has to, he needs to, he must

dois-je être plus clair? do I need ou have to be more explicit?

je dois admettre que... I must admit that...

il ne doit pas he must not, he musn't

on ne doit pas fumer smoking is forbidden ou is not allowed

2. [dans des conseils, des suggestions]

il devrait he ought to, he should

tu ne devrais pas boire you shouldn't drink

3. [indique une prévision, une intention]

il doit m'en donner demain he's due to ou he should give me some tomorrow

c'est une pièce que l'on doit voir depuis un an! it's a play we've supposedly been going to see ou we've been planning to see for a year!

[dans le passé]

il devait venir mais je ne l'ai pas vu he was supposed to come ou to have come but I didn't see him

4. [exprime une probabilité]

il/cela doit he/it must, he's/it's got to

il doit être fatigué he must be tired, he's probably tired

il ne devait pas beaucoup l'aimer pour écrire cela he can't have really loved her to write this

il doit y avoir ou cela doit faire un an que je ne l'ai pas vu it must be a year since I (last) saw him

une offre qui devrait les intéresser an offer which should interest them

5. [exprime l'inévitable]

nous devons tous mourir un jour we all have to die one day

la maison où elle devait écrire "Claudine" the house where she was to write "Claudine"

[exprime une norme]

un bon chanteur doit savoir chanter en direct a good singer should be able to sing live

le four ne devrait pas faire ce bruit the oven isn't supposed to ou shouldn't make that noise

6. (soutenu)

je l'aiderai, dussé-je aller en prison/y passer ma vie I'll help him, even if it means going to prison/devoting my life to it

————————

[dəvwar] verbe transitif

1. [avoir comme dette] to owe

devoir quelque chose à quelqu'un to owe somebody something, to owe something to somebody

je te dois l'essence I owe you for the petrol

je ne demande que ce qui m'est dû I'm only asking for my due

2. [être moralement obligé de fournir]

devoir quelque chose à quelqu'un to owe somebody something

je te dois bien ça that's the least I can do for you

traiter quelqu'un avec le respect qu'on lui doit to treat somebody with due respect

selon les honneurs dus à sa fonction with such pomp as befits her office

3. [être redevable de]

devoir quelque chose à quelqu'un to owe something to somebody

c'est à Guimard que l'on doit cette découverte we have Guimard to thank ou we're indebted to Guimard for this discovery

c'est à lui que je dois d'avoir trouvé du travail it's thanks to him that I found a job

le son doit sa qualité à des enceintes très performantes the good quality of the sound is due to excellent speakers

sa victoire ne doit rien au hasard her victory has nothing to do with luck

————————

se devoir verbe pronominal (emploi réciproque)

[avoir comme obligation mutuelle]

les époux se doivent fidélité spouses ou husbands and wives must be faithful to each other

————————

se devoir à verbe pronominal plus préposition

tu te dois à ta musique you must dedicate yourself to your music

je me dois à mon public I must attend to my fans

————————

se devoir de verbe pronominal plus préposition

to have it as one's duty to

tu es grand, tu te dois de donner l'exemple you're a big boy now, it's your duty to show a good example

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais > devoir

10 EYKT

f.

1) half-past three o’clock, p. m. (var þat nær e. dags);

2) time of three hours (þá er þógn hafði verit nær hálfa e.).

* * *

eykð, f. three or half-past three o’clock P. M.; many commentaries have been written upon this word, as by Pal Vídalín Skýr., Finn Johnson in H. E. i. 153 sqq. note 6, and in Horologium, etc. The time of eykð is clearly defined in K. Þ. K. 92 as the time when the sun has past two parts of the ‘útsuðr’ (q. v.) and has one part left, that is to say, half-past three o’clock P. M.: it thus nearly coincides with the eccl. Lat. nona (three o’clock P. M.); and both eykt and nona are therefore used indiscriminately in some passages. Sunset at the time of ‘eykð’ is opposed to sunrise at the time of ‘dagmál,’ q. v. In Norway ‘ykt’ means a luncheon taken about half-past three o’clock. But the passage in Edda—that autumn ends and winter begins at sunset at the time of eykt—confounded the commentators, who believed it to refer to the conventional Icel. winter, which (in the old style) begins with the middle of October, and lasts six months. In the latitude of Reykholt—the residence of Snorri—the sun at this time sets about half-past four. Upon this statement the commentators have based their reasoning both in regard to dagmál and eykt, placing the eykt at half-past four P. M. and dagmál at half-past seven A. M., although this contradicts the definition of these terms in the law. The passage in Edda probably came from a foreign source, and refers not to the Icel. winter but to the astronomical winter, viz. the winter solstice or the shortest day; for sunset at half-past three is suited not to Icel., but to the latitude of Scotland and the southern parts of Scandinavia. The word is also curious from its bearing upon the discovery of America by the ancients, vide Fb. l. c. This sense ( half-past three) is now obsolete in Icel., but eykt is in freq. use in the sense of trihorium, a time of three hours; whereas in the oldest Sagas no passage has been found bearing this sense,—the Bs. i. 385, 446, and Hem. l. c. are of the 13th and 14th centuries. In Norway ykt is freq. used metaph. of all the four meal times in the day, morning-ykt, midday-ykt, afternoon-ykt (or ykt proper), and even-ykt. In old MSS. (Grág., K. Þ. K., Hem., Heið. S.) this word is always spelt eykð or eykþ, shewing the root to be ‘auk’ with the fem. inflex. added; it probably first meant the eke-meal, answering to Engl. lunch, and thence came to mean the time of day at which this meal was taken. The eccl. law dilates upon the word, as the Sabbath was to begin at ‘hora nona;’ hence the phrase, eykt-helgr dagr (vide below). The word can have no relation to átta, eight, or átt, plaga coeli. At present Icel. say, at eykta-mótum, adv. at great intervals, once an eykt, once in three hours.

I. half-past three; þá er eykð er útsuðrs-átt er deild í þriðjunga, ok hefir sól gengna tvá hluti en einn ógenginn, K. Þ. K. 92; net skal öll upp taka fyrir eykð, 90; helgan dag eptir eykð, 88; ef þeir hafa unnit á eykð, 94; enda skal hann undan honum hafa boðit fyrir miðjan dag en hinn skal hafa kosit at eykþ, Grág. i. 198; ok á maðr kost at stefna fyrir eykþ ef vill, 395; í þat mund dags er tók út eyktina, Fms. xi. 136; eptir eykt dags, rendering of the Lat. ‘vix decima parte diei reliqua,’ Róm. 313; þeir gengu til eyktar, ok höfðu farit árla morguns, en er nón var dags, etc., Fs. 176; at eykð dags þá kómu heim húskarlar Barða. Ísl. ii. 329; nú vættir mik at þar komi þér nær eykð dags, 345; var þat nær eykð dags, 349; var hón at veraldligu verki þangat til er kom eykð, þá fór hón til bænar sinnar at nóni, Hom. (St.) 59.

COMPDS: eykðarhelgr, eyktarstaðr, eykðartíð.

II. trihorium; en er liðin var nær ein eykt dags, Bs. i. 446; at þat mundi verit hafa meir en hálf eykt, er hann vissi ekki til sín, 385; þessi flaug vanst um eina eykð dags, Hem. (Hb.)

Íslensk-ensk orðabók > EYKT

11 AT

I) prep.

A. with dative.

I. Of motion;

1) towards, against;

Otkell laut at Skamkatli, bowed down to S.;

hann sneri egginni at Ásgrími, turned the edge against A.;

2) close atup to;

Brynjólfr gengr alit at honum, quite up to him;

þeir kómust aldri at honum, they could never get near him, to close quarters with him;

3) to, at;

koma at landi, to come to land;

ganga at dómi, to go into court;

4) along (= eptir);

ganga at stræti, to walk along the street;

dreki er niðr fór at ánni (went down the river) fyrir strauminum;

refr dró hörpu at ísi, on the ice;

5) denoting hostility;

renna (sœkja) at e-m, to rush at, assault;

gerði þá at þeim þoku mikla, they were overtaken by a thick fog;

6) around;

vefja motri at höfði sér, to wrap a veil round one’s head;

bera grjót at e-m, to heap stones upon the body;

7) denoting business, engagement;

ríða at hrossum, at sauðum, to go looking after horses, watching sheep;

fara at landskuldum, to go collecting rents.

II. Of position, &c.;

1) denoting presence at, near, by, upon;

at kirkju, at church;

at dómi, in court;

at lögbergi, at the hill of laws;

2) denoting participation in;

vera at veizlu, brullaupi, to be at a banquet, wedding;

vera at vígi, to be an accessory in man-slaying;

3) ellipt., vera at, to be about, to be busy at;

kvalararnir, er at vóru at pína hann, who were tormenting him;

var þar at kona nökkur at binda (was there busy dressing) sár manna;

4) with proper names of places (farms);

konungr at Danmörku ok Noregi, king of;

biskup at Hólum, bishop of Holar;

at Helgafelli, at Bergþórshváli;

5) used ellipt. with a genitive, at (a person’s) house;

at hans (at his house) gisti fjölmenni mikit;

at Marðar, at Mara’s home;

at hins beilaga Ólafs konungs, at St. Olave’s church;

at Ránar, at Ran’s (abode).

III. Of time;

1) at, in;

at upphafi, at first, in the beginning;

at skilnaði, at parting, when they parted;

at páskum, at Easter;

at kveldi, at eventide;

at þinglausnum, at the close of the Assembly;

at fjöru, at the ebb;

at flœðum, at the floodtide;

2) adding ‘komanda’ or ‘er kemr’;

at ári komanda, next year;

at vári, er kemr, next spring;

generally with ‘komanda’ understood;

at sumri, hausti, vetri, vári, next summer, &c.;

3) used with an absolute dative and present or past part.;

at sér lifanda, duing his lifetime;

at öllum ásjándum, in the sight of all;

at áheyranda höfðingjanum, in the hearing of the chief;

at upprennandi sólu, at sunrise;

at liðnum sex vikum, after six weeks are past;

at honum önduðum, after his death;

4) denoting uninterrupted succession, after;

hverr at öðrum, annarr at öðrum, one after another;

skildu menn at þessu, thereupon, after this;

at því (thereafter) kómu aðrar meyjar.

IV. fig. and in various uses;

1) to, into, with the notion of destruction or change;

brenna (borgina) at ösku, to burn to ashes;

verða at ormi, to become a snake;

2) for, as;

gefa e-t at gjöf, as a present;

eiga e-n at vin, to have one as friend;

3) by;

taka sverð at hjöltum, by the hilt;

draga út björninn at hlustunum, by the ears;

kjósa at afli, álitum, by strength, appearrance;

4) as regards as to;

auðigr at fé, wealthy in goods;

vænn (fagr) at áliti, fair of face;

5) as a law term, on the grounds of, by reason of;

ryðja ( to challenge) dóm at mægðum, kvið at frændsemi;

6) as a paraphrase of a genitive;

faðir, móðir at barni (= barns, of a child);

aðili at sök = aðili sakar;

7) with adjectives denoting colour, size, age, of;

hvítr, svartr, rauðr at lit, while, black, red of colour;

mikill, lítill at stœrð, vexti, tall, small of stature;

tvítugr at aldri, twenty years of age;

kýr at fyrsta, öðrum kálfi, a cow that has calved once, twice;

8) determining the source from which anything comes, of, from;

Ari nam ok marga frœði at Þuríði (from her);

þiggja, kaupa, geta, leigja e-t at e-m, to receive, buy, obtain, borrow a thing from one;

hafa veg (virðing) styrk at e-m, to derive honour, power, from one;

9) according, to, after (heygðr at fornum sið);

at ráði allra vitrustu manna, by the advice of;

at landslögum, by the law of the land;

at vánum, as was to be expected;

at leyfi e-s, by one’s leave;

10) in adverbial phrases;

gróa (vera grœddr) at heilu, to be quite healed;

bíta af allt gras at snøggu, quite bare;

at fullu, fully;

at vísu, surely;

at frjálsu, freely;

at eilífu, for ever and ever;

at röngu, at réttu, wrongly, rightly;

at líku, at sömu, equally, all the same;

at mun, at ráði, at marki, to a great extent.

B. with acc., after, upon (= eptir);

sonr á at taka arf at föður sinn, to take the inheritance after his father;

eiga féránsdóm at e-n, to hold a court of execution upon a person;

at þat (= eptir þat), after that, thereafter;

connected with a past part. or a., at Gamla fallinn, after the fall of Gamli;

at Hrungni dauðan, upon the death of Hrungnir.

II)

1) as the simple mark of the infinitive, to;

at ganga, at ríða, at hlaupa, to walk, to ride, to run;

2) in an objective sense;

hann bauð þeim at fara, sitja, he bade (ordered) them to go, sit;

gefa e-m at eta, at drekka, to give one to eat, to drink;

3) denoting design or purpose, in order to (hann gekk í borg at kaupa silfr).

III)

1) demonstrative particle before a comparative, the, all the, so much the;

hón grét at meir, she wept the more;

þykkir oss at líkara, all the more likely;

þú ert maðr at verri (so much the worse), er þú hefir þetta mælt;

2) rel. pron., who, which, that (= er);

þeir allir, at þau tíðindi heyrðu, all those who heard;

sem þeim er títt, at ( as is the custom of those who) kaupferðir reka.

IV)

conj., that;

1) introducing a subjective or objective clause;

þat var einhverju sinni, at Höskuldr hafði vinaboð, it happened once that H.;

vilda ek, at þú réðist austr í fjörðu, I should like you to go;

2) relative to svá, denoting proportion, degree;

svá mikill lagamaðr, at, so great a lawyer, that;

3) with subj., denoting end or purpose, in order that (skáru þeir fyrir þá (viz. hestana) melinn, at þeir dœi eigi af sulti);

4) since, because, as (= því at);

5) connected with þó, því, svá;

þó at (with subj.), though, although;

því at, because, for;

svá at, so that;

6) temp., þá at (= þá er), when;

þegar at (= þegar er), as soon as;

þar til at (= þar til er), until, till;

áðr at (= á. en), before;

7) used superfluously after an int. pron. or adv.;

Ólafr spurði, hvern styrk at hann mundi fá honum, what help he was likely to give him;

in a relative sense; með fullkomnum ávexti, hverr at (which) þekkr ok þægiligr mun verða.

V)

negative verbal suffix, = ata; var-at, was not.

VI)

n. an incited conflict or fight ( see etja);

odda at, Yggs at, battle.

* * *

1.

and að, prep., often used ellipt. dropping the case and even merely as an adverb, [Lat. ad; Ulf. at = πρός and παρά, A. S. ät; Engl. at; Hel. ad = apud; O. H. G. az; lost in mod. Germ., and rare in Swed. and Dan.; in more freq. use in Engl. than any other kindred language, Icel. only excepted]:—the mod. pronunciation and spelling is að (aþ); this form is very old, and is found in Icel. vellum MSS. of the 12th century, e. g. aþ, 623. 60; yet in earlier times it was sounded with a tenuis, as we may infer from rhymes, e. g. jöfurr hyggi at | hve ek yrkja fat, Egill: Sighvat also makes it rhyme with a t. The verse by Thorodd—þar vastu at er fjáðr klæðið þvat (Skálda 162)—is hardly intelligible unless we accept the spelling with an aspirate (að), and say that þvað is = þvá = þváði, lavabat; it may be that by the time of Thorodd and Ari the pure old pronunciation was lost, or is ‘þvat’ simply the A. S. þvât, secuit? The Icelanders still, however, keep the tenuis in compounds before a vowel, or before h, v, or the liquids l, r, thus—atyrða, atorka, athöfn, athugi, athvarf, athlægi; atvinna, atvik; atlaga, atlíðanði ( slope), atriði, atreið, atróðr: but aðdjúpr, aðfinsla (critic), aðferð, aðkoma, aðsókn, aðsúgr (crowding), aðgæzla. In some words the pronunciation is irregular, e. g. atkvæði not aðkv-; atburðr, but aðbúnaðr; aðhjúkran not athjúkran; atgörvi not aðgörfi. At, to, towards; into; against; along, by; in regard to; after.

Mostly with dat.; rarely with acc.; and sometimes ellipt.—by dropping the words ‘home,’ ‘house,’ or the like—with gen.

WITH DAT.

A. LOC.

I. WITH MOTION; gener. the motion to the borders, limits of an object, and thus opp. to frá:

1. towards, against, with or without the notion of arrival, esp. connected with verbs denoting motion (verba movendi et eundi), e. g. fara, ganga, koma, lúta, snúa, rétta at…; Otkell laut at Skamkatli, O. louted (i. e. bowed down) towards S., Nj. 77, Fms. xi. 102; sendimaðrinn sneri ( turned) hjöltum sverðsins at konungi, towards the king, i. 15; hann sneri egginni at Ásgrími, turned the edge towards A., Nj. 220; rétta e-t at e-m, to reach, hand over, Ld. 132; ganga at, to step towards, Ísl. ii. 259.

2. denoting proximity, close up to, up to; Brynjólfr gengr … allt at honum, B. goes quite up to him, Nj. 58; Gunnarr kom þangat at þeim örunum, G. reached them even there with his arrows, 115; þeir kómust aldri at honum, they could never get near him, to close quarters, id.; reið maðr at þeim (up to them), 274; þeir höfðu rakit sporin allt at ( right up to) gammanum, Fms. i. 9; komu þeir at sjó fram, came down to the sea, Bárð. 180.

3. without reference to the space traversed, to or at; koma at landi, to land, Ld. 38, Fms. viii. 358; ríða at dyrum, Boll. 344; hlaupa at e-m, to run up to, run at, Fms. vii. 218, viii. 358; af sjáfarganginum er hann gekk at landinu, of the surf dashing against the shore, xi. 6; vísa ólmum hundi at manni, to set a fierce hound at a man, Grág. ii. 118; leggja e-n at velli, to lay low, Eg. 426, Nj. 117; hníga at jörðu, at grasi, at moldu, to bite the dust, to die, Njarð. 378; ganga at dómi, a law term, to go into court, of a plaintiff, defendant, or bystander, Nj. 87 (freq.)

4. denoting a motion along, into, upon; ganga at stræti, to walk along the street, Korm. 228, Fms. vii. 39; at ísi, on the ice, Skálda 198, Fms. vii. 19, 246, viii. 168, Eb. 112 new Ed. (á is perh. wrong); máttu menn ganga bar yfir at skipum einum, of ships alone used as a bridge, Fas. i. 378; at höfðum, at nám, to trample on the slain on the battle-field, Lex. Poët.; at ám, along the rivers; at merkiósum, at the river’s mouth, Grág. ii. 355; at endilöngu baki, all along its back, Sks. 100.

5. denoting hostility, to rush at, assault; renna at, hlaupa at, ganga, fara, ríða, sækja, at e-m, (v. those words), whence the nouns atrenna, athlaup, atgangr, atför, atreið, atsókn, etc.

β. metaph., kom at þeim svefnhöfgi, deep sleep fell on them, Nj. 104. Esp. of weather, in the impers. phrase, hríð, veðr, vind, storm görir at e-m, to be overtaken by a snow storm, gale, or the like; görði þá at þeim þoku mikla, they were overtaken by a thick fog, Bárð. 171.

6. denoting around, of clothing or the like; bregða skikkju at höfði sér, to wrap his cloak over his head, Ld. 62; vefja motri at höfði sér, to wrap a snood round her head, 188; sauma at, to stick, cling close, as though sewn on; sauma at höndum sér, of tight gloves, Bs. i. 453; kyrtill svá þröngr sem saumaðr væri at honum, as though it were stitched to him, Nj. 214; vafit at vándum dreglum, tight laced with sorry tags, id.; hosa strengd fast at beini, of tight hose, Eg. 602; hann sveipar at sér iðrunum ok skyrtunni, he gathers up the entrails close to him and the skirt too, Gísl. 71; laz at síðu, a lace on the side, to keep the clothes tight, Eg. 602.

β. of burying; bera grjót at einum, to heap stones upon the body, Eg. 719; var gör at þeim dys or grjóti, Ld. 152; gora kistu at líki, to make a coffin for a body, Eb. 264, Landn. 56, Ld. 142.

γ. of summoning troops or followers; stefna at sér mönnum, to summon men to him, Nj. 104; stefna at sér liði, Eg. 270; kippa mönnum at sér, to gather men in haste, Ld. 64.

7. denoting a business, engagement; ríða at hrossum, at sauðum, to go looking after after horses, watching sheep, Glúm. 362, Nj. 75; fara at fé, to go to seek for sheep, Ld. 240; fara at heyi, to go a-haymaking, Dropl. 10; at veiðum, a-hunting; at fuglum, a-fowling; at dýrum, a-sbooting; at fiski, a-fishing; at veiðiskap, Landn. 154, Orkn. 416 (in a verse), Nj. 25; fara at landskuldum, to go a-collecling rents, Eg. 516; at Finnkaupum, a-marketing with Finns, 41; at féföngum, a-plundering, Fms. vii. 78; ganga at beina, to wait on guests, Nj. 50; starfa at matseld, to serve at table, Eb. 266; hitta e-n at nauðsynjum, on matters of business; at máli, to speak with one, etc., Fms. xi. 101; rekast at e-m, to pursue one, ix. 404; ganga at liði sér, to go suing for help, Grág. ii. 384.

β. of festivals; snúa, fá at blóti, veizlu, brullaupi, to prepare for a sacrificial banquet, wedding, or the like, hence at-fangadagr, Eb. 6, Ld. 70; koma at hendi, to happen, befall; ganga at sínu, to come by one’s own, to take it, Ld. 208; Egill drakk hvert full er at honum kom, drained every horn that came to him, Eg. 210; komast at keyptu, to purchase dearly, Húv. 46.

8. denoting imaginary motion, esp. of places, cp. Lat. spectare, vergere ad…, to look or lie towards; horfði botninn at höfðanum, the bight of the bay looked toward the headland, Fms. i. 340, Landn. 35; also, skeiðgata liggr at læknum, leads to the brook, Ísl. ii. 339; á þann arminn er vissi at sjánum, on that wing which looked toward the sea, Fms. viii. 115; sár þau er horft höfðu at Knúti konungi, xi. 309.

β. even connected with verbs denoting motion; Gilsáreyrr gengr austan at Fljótinu, G. extends, projects to F. from the east, Hrafh. 25; hjá sundi því, er at gengr þingstöðinni, Fms. xi. 85.

II. WITHOUT MOTION; denoting presence at, near, by, at the side of, in, upon; connected with verbs like sitja, standa, vera…; at kirkju, at church, Fms. vii. 251, K. f). K. 16, Ld. 328, Ísl. ii. 270, Sks. 36; vera at skála, at húsi, to be in, at home, Landn. 154; at landi, Fms. i. 82; at skipi, on shipboard, Grág. i. 209, 215; at oldri, at a banquet, inter pocula; at áti, at dinner, at a feast, inter edendum, ii. 169, 170; at samförum ok samvistum, at public meetings, id.; at dómi, in a court; standa (to take one’s stand) norðan, sunnan, austan, vestan at dómi, freq. in the proceedings at trials in lawsuits, Nj.; at þingi, present at the parliament, Grág. i. 142; at lögbergi, o n the hill of laws, 17, Nj.; at baki e-m, at the back of.

2. denoting presence, partaking in; sitja at mat, to sit at meat, Fms. i. 241; vera at veizlu, brullaupi, to be at a banquet, nuptials, Nj. 51, Ld. 70: a law term, vera at vígi, to be an accessory in manslaying, Nj. 89, 100; vera at e-u simply means to be about, be busy in, Fms. iv. 237; standa at máli, to stand by one in a case, Grág. ii. 165, Nj. 214; vera at fóstri, to be fostered, Fms. i. 2; sitja at hégóma, to listen to nonsense, Ld. 322; vera at smíð, to be at one’s work, Þórð. 62: now absol., vera at, to go on with, be busy at.

3. the law term vinna eið at e-u has a double meaning:

α. vinna eið at bók, at baugi, to make an oath upon the book by laying the band upon it, Landn. 258, Grág., Nj.; cp. Vkv. 31, Gkv. 3. 3, Hkv. 2. 29, etc.: ‘við’ is now used in this sense.

β. to confirm a fact (or the like) by an oath, to swear to, Grág. i. 9, 327.

γ. the law phrase, nefna vátta at e-u, of summoning witnesses to a deed, fact, or the like; nefna vátta at benjum, to produce evidence, witnesses as to the wounds, Nj., Grág.; at görð, Eg. 738; at svörum, Grág. i. 19: this summoning of witnesses served in old lawsuits the same purpose as modern pleadings and depositions; every step in a suit to be lawful must be followed by such a summoning or declaration.

4. used ellipt., vera at, to be about, to be busy at; kvalararnir er at vóru at pína hann, who were tormenting him; þar varstu at, you were there present, Skálda 162; at várum þar, Gísl. (in a verse): as a law term ‘vera at’ means to be guilty, Glúm. 388; vartattu at þar, Eg. (in a verse); hence the ambiguity of Glum’s oath, vask at þar, I was there present: var þar at kona nokkur ( was there busy) at binda sár manna, Fms. v. 91; hann var at ok smíðaði skot, Rd. 313; voru Varbelgir at ( about) at taka af, þau lög …, Fms. ix. 512; ek var at ok vafk, I was about weaving, xi. 49; þeir höfðu verit at þrjú sumur, they had been busy at it for three summers, x. 186 (now very freq.); koma at, come in, to arrive unexpectedly; Gunnarr kom at í því, G. came in at that moment; hvaðan komtú nú at, whence did you come? Nj. 68, Fms. iii. 200.

5. denoting the kingdom or residence of a king or princely person; konungr at Danmörk ok Noregi, king of…, Fms. i. 119, xi. 281; konungr, jarl, at öllum Noregi, king, earl, over all N., íb. 3, 13, Landn. 25; konungr at Dyflinni, king of Dublin, 25; but í or yfir England!, Eg. 263: cp. the phrase, sitja at landi, to reside, of a king when at home, Hkr. i. 34; at Joini, Fms. xi. 74: used of a bishop; biskup at Hólum, bishop of Hólar, Íb. 18, 19; but biskup í Skálaholti, 19: at Rómi, at Rome, Fbr. 198.

6. in denoting a man’s abode (vide p. 5, col. 1, l. 27), the prep. ‘at’ is used where the local name implies the notion of by the side of, and is therefore esp. applied to words denoting a river, brook, rock, mountain, grove, or the like, and in some other instances, by, at, e. g. at Hofi (a temple), Landn. 198; at Borg ( a castle), 57; at Helgafelli (a mountain), Eb. constantly so; at Mosfelli, Landn. 190; at Hálsi (a hill), Fms. xi. 22; at Bjargi, Grett. 90; Hálsum, Landn. 143; at Á ( river), 296, 268; at Bægisá, 212; Giljá, 332; Myrká, 211; Vatnsá, id.; þverá, Glúm. 323; at Fossi (a ‘force’ or waterfall), Landn. 73; at Lækjamoti (waters-meeting), 332; at Hlíðarenda ( end of the lithe or hill), at Bergþórshváli, Nj.; at Lundi (a grove), at Melum (sandhill), Landn. 70: the prep. ‘á’ is now used in most of these cases, e. g. á Á, á Hofi, Helgafelli, Felli, Hálsi, etc.

β. particularly, and without any regard to etymology, used of the abode of kings or princes, to reside at; at Uppsölum, at Haugi, Alreksstöðum, at Hlöðum, Landn., Fms.

γ. konungr lét kalla at stofudyrum, the king made a call at the hall door, Eg. 88; þeir kölluðu at herberginu, they called at the inn, Fms. ix. 475.

7. used ellipt. with a gen., esp. if connected with such words as gista, to be a guest, lodge, dine, sup (of festivals or the like) at one’s home; at Marðar, Nj. 4; at hans, 74; þingfesti at þess bóanda, Grág. i. 152; at sín, at one’s own home, Eg. 371, K. Þ. K. 62; hafa náttstað at Freyju, at the abode of goddess Freyja, Eg. 603; at Ránar, at Ran’s, i. e. at Ran’s house, of drowned men who belong to the queen of the sea, Ran, Eb. 274; at hins heilaga Ólafs konungs, at St. Olave’s church, Fms. vi. 63: cp. ad Veneris, εις Κίμωνος.

B. TEMP.

I. at, denoting a point or period of time; at upphafi, at first, in the beginning, Ld. 104; at lyktum, at síðustu, at lokum, at last; at lesti, at last, Lex. Poët., more freq. á lesti; at skilnaði, at parting, at last, Band. 3; at fornu, in times of yore, formerly, Eg. 267, D. I. i. 635; at sinni, as yet, at present; at nýju, anew, of present time; at eilífu, for ever and ever; at skömmu, soon, shortly, Ísl. ii. 272, v. l.

II. of the very moment when anything happens, the beginning of a term; denoting the seasons of the year, months, weeks, the hours of the day; at Jólum, at Yule, Nj. 46; at Pálmadegi, on Palm Sunday, 273; at Páskum, at Easter; at Ólafsvöku, on St. Olave’s eve, 29th of July, Fms.; at vetri, at the beginning of the winter, on the day when winter sets in, Grág. 1. 151; at sumarmálum, at vetrnáttum; at Tvímánaði, when the Double month (August) begins, Ld. 256, Grág. i. 152; at kveldi, at eventide, Eg. 3; at því meli, at that time; at eindaga, at the term, 395; at eykð, at 4 o’clock p. m., 198; at öndverðri æfi Abra hams, Ver. II; at sinni, now at once, Fms. vi. 71; at öðruhverju, every now and then.

β. where the point of time is marked by some event; at þingi, at the meeting of parliament (18th to the 24th of June), Ld. 182; at féránsdómi, at the court of execution, Grág. i. 132, 133; at þinglausnum, at the close of the parliament (beginning of July), 140; at festarmálum, eðr at eiginorði, at betrothal or nuptials, 174; at skilnaði, when they parted, Nj. 106 (above); at öllum minnum, at the general drinking of the toasts, Eg. 253; at fjöru, at the ebb; at flæðum, at flood tide, Fms. viii. 306, Orkn. 428; at hrörum, at an inquest, Grág. i. 50 (cp. ii. 141, 389); at sökum, at prosecutions, 30; at sinni, now, as yet, v. that word.

III. ellipt., or adding ‘komanda’ or ‘er kemr,’ of the future time:

1. ellipt., komanda or the like being understood, with reference to the seasons of the year; at sumri, at vetri, at hausti, at vári, next summer, winter…, Ísl. ii. 242; at miðju sumri, at ári, at Midsummer, next year, Fas. i. 516; at miðjum vetri, Fms. iv. 237,

2. adding ‘komanda’ or ‘er kemr;’ at ári komanda, Bárð. 177; at vári er kemr, Dipl. iii. 6.

IV. used with an absolute dat. and with a pres. part.:

1. with pres. part.; at morni komanda, on the coming morrow, Fms. i. 263; at sér lifanda, in vivo, in his life time, Grág. ii. 202; at þeim sofundum, illis dormientibus, Hkr. i. 234; at öllum ásjándum, in the sight of all, Fms. x. 329; at úvitanda konungi, illo nesciente, without his knowledge, 227; at áheyranda höfðingjanum, in the chief’s bearing, 235.

2. of past time with a past part. (Lat. abl. absol.); at hræjum fundnum, on the bodies being found, Grág. ii. 87; at háðum dómum ok föstu þingi, during the session, the courts being set, i. 484; at liðnum sex vikum, after six weeks past, Band. 13; at svá búnu, so goru, svá komnu, svá mæltu (Lat. quibus rebus gestis, dictis, quo facto, dicto, etc.), v. those words; at úreyndu, without trial, without put ting one to the test, Ld. 76; at honum önduðum, illo mortuo.

3. ellipt. without ‘at;’ en þessum hlutum fram komnum, when all this has been done, Eb. 132.

V. in some phrases with a slight temp, notion; at görðum gildum, the fences being strong, Gþl. 387; at vörmu spori, at once, whilst the trail is warm; at úvörum, unawares, suddenly, Nj. 95, Ld. 132; at þessu, at this cost, on that condition, Eb. 38, Nj. 55; at illum leiki, to have a narrow escape, now við illan leik, Fms. ix. 473; at því, that granted, Grág. ii. 33: at því, at pessu, thereafter, thereupon, Nj. 76.

2. denoting succession, without interruption, one after another; hverr at öðrum, annarr maðr at öðrum, aðrir at öðrum; eina konu at annarri, Eg. 91, Fms. ii. 236, vi. 25, Bs. i. 22, 625. 80, H. E. i. 522.

C. METAPH. and in various cases:

I. denoting a transformation or change into, to, with the notion of destruction; brenna at ösku, at köldum kolum, to burn to ashes, to be quite destroyed, Fms. i. 105, Edda 3, Sturl. ii. 51: with the notion of transformation or transfiguration, in such phrases as, verða at e-u, göra e-t at e-u, to turn it into:

α. by a spell; verða at ormi, to become a snake, Fms. xi. 158; at flugdrekum, Gullþ. 7; urðu þau bönd at járni, Edda 40.

β. by a natural process it can often be translated by an acc. or by as; göra e-n at urðarmanni, to make him an outlaw, Eg. 728; græða e-n at orkumlamanni, to heal him so as to maim him for life, of bad treatment by a leech, Eb. 244: in the law terms, sár görist at ben, a wound turning into a ben, proving to be mortal, Grág., Nj.; verða at ljúgvætti, to prove to be a false evidence, Grág. i. 44; verða at sætt, to turn into reconciliation, Fms. i. 13; göra e-t at reiði málum, to take offence at, Fs. 20; at nýjum tíðindum, to tell as news, Nj. 14; verða fátt at orðum, to be sparing of words, 18; kveðr (svá) at orði, to speak, utter, 10; verða at þrifnaði, to geton well, Fms. vii. 196: at liði, at skaða, to be a help or hurt to one; at bana, to cause one’s death, Nj. 223, Eg. 21, Grág. ii. 29: at undrum, at hlátri, to become a wonder, a laughing-stock, 623. 35, Eg. 553.

II. denoting capacity, where it may be translated merely by as or for; gefa at Jólagjöf, to give for a Christmas-box, Eg. 516; at gjöf, for a present; at erfð, at láni, launum, as an inheritance, a loan; at kaupum ok sökum, for buying and selling, Ísl. ii. 223, Grág. i. 423; at solum, ii. 204; at herfangi, as spoil or plunder; at sakbótum, at niðgjöldum, as a compensation, weregeld, i. 339, ii. 171, Hkr. ii. 168; taka at gíslingu, to take as an hostage, Edda 15; eiga e-n at vin, at óvin, to have one as friend or foe, illt er at eiga þræl at eingavin, ‘tis ill to have a thrall for one’s bosom friend (a proverb), Nj. 77; fæða, eiga, at sonum (syni), to beget a son, Edda 8, Bs. i. 60 (but eiga at dóttur cannot be said); hafa möttul at yfirhöfn, Fms. vii. 201; verða nökkut at manni (mönnum), to turn out to be a worthy man; verða ekki at manni, to turn out a worthless person, xi. 79, 268.

2. in such phrases as, verða at orðum, to come towards, Nj. 26; var þat at erindum, Eg. 148; hafa at veizlum, to draw veizlur ( dues) from, Fms. iv. 275, Eg. 647; gora e-t at álitum, to take it into consideration, Nj. 3.

III. denoting belonging to, fitting, of parts of the whole or the like; vóru at honum (viz. the sword) hjölt gullbúin, the sword was ornamented with a hilt of gold, Ld. 330; umgörð at ( belonging to) sverði, Fs. 97 (Hs.) in a verse; en ef mór er eigi at landinu, if there be no turf moor belonging to the land, Grág. ii. 338; svá at eigi brotnaði nokkuð at Orminum, so that no harm happened to the ship Worm, Fms. x. 356; hvatki er meiðir at skipinu eðr at reiðinu eðr at viðum, damage done t o …, Grág. ii. 403; lesta ( to injure) hús at lásum, við eðr torfi, 110; ef land hefir batnað at húsum, if the land has been bettered as to its buildings, 210; cp. the phrase, göra at e-u, to repair: hamlaðr at höndum eðr fótum, maimed as to hands or feet, Eg. 14; heill at höndum en hrumr at fótum, sound in band, palsied in foot, Fms. vii. 12; lykill at skrá, a key belonging, fitting, to the latch; hurð at húsi; a key ‘gengr at’ ( fits) skrá; and many other phrases. 2. denoting the part by which a thing is held or to which it belongs, by; fá, taka at…, to grasp by …; þú tókt við sverði hans at hjöltunum, you took it by the bill, Fms. i. 15; draga út björninn at hlustum, to pull out the bear by the ears, Fas. ii. 237; at fótum, by the feet, Fms. viii. 363; mæla ( to measure) at hrygg ok at jaðri, by the edge or middle of the stuff, Grág. i. 498; kasta e-m at höfði, head foremost, Nj. 84; kjósa e-n at fótum, by the feet alone, Edda 46; hefja frændsemi at bræðrum, eða at systkynum, to reckon kinship by the brother’s or the sister’s side, Grág. i. 28; kjósa at afli, at álitum, by strength, sight, Gs. 8, belongs rather to the following.

IV. in respect of, as regards, in regard to, as to; auðigr at fé, wealthy of goods, Nj. 16, 30, 51; beztir hestar at reið, the best racehorses, 186; spekingr at viti, a man of great intellect, Ld. 124; vænn (fagr) at áliti, fair of face, Nj. 30, Bs. i. 61; kvenna vænst at ásjónu ok vits munum, of surpassing beauty and intellect, Ld. 122; fullkominn at hyggju, 18; um fram aðra menn at vinsældum ok harðfengi, of surpassing popularity and hardihood, Eb. 30.

2. a law term, of challenging jurors, judges, or the like, on account of, by reason of; ryðja ( to challenge) at mægðum, guðsifjum, frændsemi, hrörum …; at leiðarlengd, on account of distance, Grág. i. 30, 50, Nj. (freq.)

3. in arithm. denoting proportion; at helmingi, þriðjungi, fjórðungi, tíunda hluta, cp. Lat. ex asse, quadrante, for the half, third… part; máttr skal at magni (a proverb), might and main go together, Hkr. ii. 236; þú munt vera at því mikill fræðimaðr á kvæði, in the same proportion, as great, Fms. vi. 391, iii. 41; at e-s hluta, at… leiti, for one’s part, in turn, as far as one is con cerned, Grág. i. 322, Eg. 309, Fms. iii. 26 (freq.): at öðrum kosti, in the other case, otherwise (freq.) More gener., at öllu, öngu, in all (no) respects; at sumu, einhverju, nokkru, partly; at flestu, mestu, chiefly.

4. as a paraphrase of a genitive; faðir, móðir at barni (= barns); aðili at sök (= sakar a.); morðingi at barni (= barns), faðerni at barni (barns); illvirki at fé manna (cp. Lat. felo de se), niðrfall at sökum (saka), land gangr at fiskum (fiska), Fms. iv. 274, Grág. i. 277, 416, N. G. L. i. 340, K. Þ. K. 112, Nj. 21.

5. the phrase ‘at sér,’ of himself or in himself, either ellipt. or by adding the participle görr, and with the adverbs vel, ilia, or the like; denoting breeding, bearing, endowments, character …; væn kona, kurteis ok vel at sér, an accomplished, well-bred, gifted lady, Nj. I; vitr maðr ok vel at sér, a wise man and thoroughly good in feeling and bearing, 5; þú ert maðr vaskr ok vel at þér, 49; gerr at sér, accomplished, 51; bezt at sér görr, the finest, best bred man, 39, Ld. 124; en þó er hann svá vel at sér, so generous, Nj. 77; þeir höfðingjar er svá vóru vel at sér, so noble-minded, 198, Fms. i. 160: the phrase ‘at sér’ is now only used of knowledge, thus maðr vel að sér means clever, a man of great knowledge; illa að sér, a blockhead.

6. denoting relations to colour, size, value, age, and the like; hvitr, svartr, grár, rauðr … at lit, white, swarthy, gray, red … of colour, Bjarn. 55, 28, Ísl. ii. 213, etc.; mikill, lítill, at stærð, vexti, tall, small of size, etc.; ungr, gamall, barn, at aldri, young, old, a child of age; tvítugr, þrítugr … at aldri, twenty, thirty … years of age (freq.): of animals; kyr at fyrsta, öðrum … kálfi, a cow having calved once, twice…, Jb. 346: value, amount, currency of money, kaupa e-t at mörk, at a mark, N. G. L. 1. 352; ok er eyririnn at mörk, amounts to a mark, of the value of money, Grág. i. 392; verðr þá at hálfri murk vaðmála eyrir, amounts to a half a mark, 500.

β. metaph. of value, connected with verbs denoting to esteem, hold; meta, hafa, halda at miklu, litlu, vettugi, engu, or the like, to hold in high or low esteem, to care or not to care for (freq.): geta e-s at góðu, illu, öngu, to mention one favourably, unfavourably, indifferently … (freq.), prop. in connection with. In many cases it may be translated by in; ekki er mark at draumum, there is no meaning in dreams, no heed is to be paid to dreams, Sturl. ii. 217; bragð er at þá barnið finnr, it goes too far, when even a child takes offence (a proverb): hvat er at því, what does it mean? Nj. 11; hvert þat skip er vöxtr er at, any ship of mark, i. e. however small, Fms. xi. 20.

V. denoting the source of a thing:

1. source of infor mation, to learn, perceive, get information from; Ari nam ok marga fræði at Þuríði, learnt as her pupil, at her hands, as St. Paul at the feet of Gamaliel, (just as the Scotch say to speer or ask at a person); Ari nam at Þorgeiri afraðskoll, Hkr. (pref.); nema kunnáttu at e-m, used of a pupil, Fms. i. 8; nema fræði at e-m, xi. 396.

2. of receiving, acquiring, buying, from; þiggja e-t at e-m, to receive a thing at his hands, Nj. 51; líf, to be pardoned, Fms. x. 173; kaupa land at e-m, to buy it from, Landn. 72, Íb. II, (now af is more freq. in this sense); geta e-t at e-m, to obtain, procure at one’s hands, impetrare; þeirra manna er þeir megu þat geta at, who are willing to do that, Grág. i. I; heimta e-t at e-m (now af), to call in, demand (a debt, money), 279; fala e-t at e-m (now af), to chaffer for or cheapen anything, Nj. 73; sækja e-t at e-m, to ask, seek for; sækja heilræði ok traust at e-m, 98; leiga e-t at e-m (now af), to borrow, Grág. ii. 334; eiga e-t (fé, skuld) at e-m, to be owed money by any one, i. 399: metaph. to deserve of one, Nj. 113; eiga mikit at e-m, to have much to do with, 138; hafa veg, virðing, styrk, at, to derive honour, power from, Fms. vi. 71, Eg. 44, Bárð. 174; gagn, to be of use, Ld. 216; mein, tálma, mischief, disadvantage, 158, 216, cp. Eg. 546; ótta, awe, Nj. 68.

VI. denoting conformity, according to, Lat. secundum, ex, after; at fornum sið, Fms. i. 112; at sögn Ara prests, as Ari relates, on his authority, 55; at ráði allra vitrustu manna, at the advice of, Ísl. ii. 259, Ld. 62; at lögum, at landslögum, by the law of the land, Grág., Nj.; at líkindum, in all likelihood, Ld. 272; at sköpum, in due course (poet.); at hinum sama hætti, in the very same manner, Grág. i. 90; at vánum, as was to be expected, Nj. 255; at leyfi e-s, by one’s leave, Eg. 35; úlofi, Grág. ii. 215; at ósk, vilja e-s, as one likes…; at mun, id. (poet.); at sólu, happily (following the course of the sun), Bs. i. 70, 137; at því sem …, as to infer from …, Nj. 124: ‘fara, láta, ganga at’ denotes to yield, agree to, to comply with, give in, Ld. 168, Eg. 18, Fms. x. 368.

VII. in phrases nearly or quite adverbial; gróa, vera græddr, at heilu, to be quite healed, Bárð. 167, Eb. 148; bíta at snöggu, to bite it bare, Fms. xi. 6; at þurru, till it becomes dry, Eb. 276; at endilöngu, all along, Fas. ii; vinnast at litlu, to avail little, 655 x. 14; at fullu, fully, Nj. 257, Hkr. i. 171; at vísu, of a surety, surely, Ld. 40; at frjálsu, freely, 308; at líku, at sömu, equally, all the same, Hom. 80, Nj. 267; at röngu, wrongly, 686 B. 2; at hófi, temperately, Lex. Poët.; at mun, at ráði, at marki, to a great extent; at hringum, utterly, all round, (rare), Fms. x. 389; at einu, yet, Orkn. 358; svá at einu, því at einu, allt at einu, yet, however, nevertheless.

VIII. connected with comparatives of adverbs and adjectives, and strengthening the sense, as in Engl. ‘the,’ so much the more, all the more; ‘at’ heldr tveimr, at ek munda gjarna veita yðr öllum, where it may be translated by so much the more to two, as I would willingly grant it to all of you; hon grét at meir, she grat (wept) the more, Eg. 483; þykir oss at líkara, all the more likely, Fms. viii. 6; þess at harðari, all the harder, Sturl. iii. 202 C; svá at hinn sé bana at nær, Grág. ii. 117; at auðnara, at hólpnara, the more happy, Al. 19, Grett. 116 B; þess at meiri, Fms. v. 64; auvirðismaðr at meiri, Sturl. ii. 139; maðr at vaskari, id.; at feigri, any the more fey, Km. 22; maðr at verri, all the worse, Nj. 168; ok er ‘at’ firr…, at ek vil miklu heldr, cp. Lat. tantum abest… ut, Eg. 60.

β. following after a negation; eigi at síðr, no less, Nj. 160, Ld. 146; eigi… at meiri maðr, any better, Eg. 425, 489; erat héra at borgnara, any the better off for that, Fms. vii. 116; eigi at minni, no less for that, Edda (pref.) 146; eigi at minna, Ld. 216, Fms. ix. 50; ekki at verri drengr, not a bit worse for that, Ld. 42; er mér ekki son minn at bættari, þótt…, 216; at eigi vissi at nær, any more, Fas. iii. 74.

IX. following many words:

1. verbs, esp. those denoting, a. to ask, enquire, attend, seek, e. g. spyrja at, to speer (ask) for; leita at, to seek for; gæta, geyma at, to pay attention to; huga, hyggja at; hence atspurn, to enquire, aðgæzla, athugi, attention, etc.

β. verbs denoting laughter, play, joy, game, cp. the Engl. to play at …, to laugh at …; hlæja, brosa at e-u, to laugh, smile at it; leika (sér) at e-u, to play at; þykja gaman at, to enjoy; hæða, göra gys at …, to make sport at …

γ. verbs denoting assistance, help; standa, veita, vinna, hjálpa at; hence atstoð, atvinna, atverk:—mode, proceeding; fara at, to proceed, hence atför and atferli:—compliance; láta, fara at e-u, v. above:— fault; e-t er at e-u, there is some fault in it, Fms. x. 418; skorta at e-u, to fall short of, xi. 98:—care, attendance; hjúkra at, hlýja at, v. these words:—gathering, collecting; draga, reiða, flytja, fá at, congerere:—engagement, arrival, etc.; sækja at, to attack; ganga at, vera at, to be about; koma at, ellipt. to arrive: göra at, to repair: lesta at, to impair (v. above); finna at, to criticise (mod.); telja at, id.: bera at, to happen; kveða at e-m, to address one, 625. 15, (kveða at (ellipt.) now means to pronounce, and of a child to utter (read) whole syllables); falla at, of the flood-tide (ellipt.): metaph. of pains or straits surrounding one; þreyngja, herða at, to press hard: of frost and cold, with regard to the seasons; frjósa at, kólna at, to get really cold (SI. 44), as it were from the cold stiffening all things: also of the seasons themselves; hausta, vetra að, when the season really sets in; esp. the cold seasons, ‘sumra at’ cannot be used, yet we may say ‘vára að’ when the spring sets in, and the air gets mild.

δ. in numberless other cases which may partly be seen below.

2. connected ellipt. with adverbs denoting motion from a place; norðan, austan, sunnan, vestan at, those from the north, east…; utan at, innan at, from the outside or inside.

3. with adjectives (but rarely), e. g. kærr, elskr, virkr (affectionate), vandr (zealous), at e-m; v. these words.

WITH ACC.

TEMP.: Lat. post, after, upon, esp. freq. in poetry, but rare in prose writers, who use eptir; nema reisi niðr at nið (= maðr eptir mann), in succession, of erecting a monument, Hm. 71; in prose, at þat. posthac, deinde, Fms. x. 323, cp. Rm., where it occurs several times, 2, 6, 9, 14, 18, 24, 28, 30, 35; sonr á at taka arf at föður sinn, has to take the inheritance after his father, Grág. i. 170 new Ed.; eiga féránsdóm at e-n, Grág. i. 89; at Gamla fallinn, after the death of G., Fms. x. 382; in Edda (Gl.) 113 ought to be restored, grét ok at Oð, gulli Freyja, she grat (wept) tears of gold for her lost husband Od. It is doubtful if it is ever used in a purely loc. sense; at land, Grág. (Sb.)ii. 211, is probably corrupt; at hönd = á hönd, Grág. (Sb.) i. 135; at mót = at móti, v. this word.

☞ In compounds (v. below) at- or að- answers in turn to Lat. ad- or in- or con-; atdráttr e. g. denotes collecting; atkoma is adventus: it may also answer to Lat. ob-, in atburðr = accidence, but might also be compared with Lat. occurrere.

2.

and að, the mark of the infinitive [cp. Goth. du; A. S. and Engl. to; Germ. zu]. Except in the case of a few verbs ‘at’ is always placed immediately before the infinitive, so as to be almost an inseparable part of the verb.

I. it is used either,

1. as, a simple mark of the infinitive, only denoting an action and independent of the subject, e. g. at ganga, at hlaupa, at vita, to go, to run, to know; or,

2. in an objective sense when following such verbs as bjóða segja…, to invite, command …; hann bauð þeim at ganga, at sitja, be bade, ordered them to go, sit, or the like; or as gefa and fá; gefa e-m at drekka, at eta, to give one to drink or to eat, etc. etc.

β. with the additional notion of intention, esp. when following verba cogitandi; hann ætlaði, hafði í hyggju at fara, he had it in his mind to go (where ‘to go’ is the real object to ætlaði and hafði í hyggju).

3. answering to the Gr. ινα, denoting intention, design, in order to; hann gékk í borg at kaupa silfr, in order to buy, Nj. 280; hann sendi riddara sína með þeim at varðveita þær, 623. 45: in order to make the phrase more plain, ‘svá’ and ‘til’ are frequently added, esp. in mod. writers, ‘svá at’ and contr. ‘svát’ (the last however is rare), ‘til at’ and ‘til þess at,’ etc.

II. in the earlier times the infin., as in Greek and Lat., had no such mark; and some verbs remain that cannot be followed by ‘at;’ these verbs are almost the same in Icel. as in Engl.:

α. the auxiliary verbs vil, mun ( μέλλω), skal; as in Engl. to is never used after the auxiliaries shall, will, must; ek vil ganga, I will go; ek mun fara, (as in North. E.) I mun go; ek skal göra þat, I shall do that, etc.

β. the verbs kunna, mega, as in Engl. I can or may do, I dare say; svá hygginn at hann kunni fyrir sökum ráða, Grág. ii. 75; í öllu er prýða má góðan höfðingja, Nj. 90; vera má, it may be; vera kann þat, id.: kunnu, however, takes ‘at’ whenever it means to know, and esp. in common language in phrases such as, það kann að vera, but vera kann þat, v. above.

γ. lata, biðja, as in Engl. to let, to bid; hann lét (bað) þá fara, he let (bade) them go.

δ. þykkja, þykjast, to seem; hann þykir vera, he is thought to be: reflex., hann þykist vera, sibi videtur: impers., mér þykir vera, mibi videtur, in all cases without ‘at.’ So also freq. the verbs hugsa, hyggja, ætla, halda, to think, when denoting merely the act of thinking; but if there be any notion of intention or purpose, they assume the ‘at;’ thus hann ætlaði, hugði, þá vera góða menn, he thought them to be, acc. c. inf.; but ætlaði at fara, meant to go, etc.

ε. the verbs denoting to see, bear; sjá, líta, horfa á … ( videre); heyra, audire, as in Engl. I saw them come, I heard him tell, ek sá þá koma, ek heyrði hann tala.

ζ. sometimes after the verbs eiga and ganga; hann gékk steikja, be went to roast, Vkv. 9; eiga, esp. when a mere periphrasis instead of skal, móður sína á maðr fyrst fram færa (better at færa), Grág. i. 232; á þann kvið einskis meta, 59; but at meta, id. l. 24; ráða, nema, göra …, freq. in poetry, when they are used as simple auxiliary verbs, e. g. nam hann sér Högna hvetja at rúnum, Skv. 3. 43.

η. hljóta and verða, when used in the sense of must (as in Engl. he must go), and when placed after the infin.of another verb; hér muntu vera hljóta, Nj. 129; but hljóta at vera: fara hlýtr þú, Fms. 1. 159; but þú hlýtr at fara: verða vita, ii. 146; but verða at vita: hann man verða sækja, þó verðr (= skal) maðr eptir mann lifa, Fms. viii. 19, Fas. ii. 552, are exceptional cases.

θ. in poetry, verbs with the verbal neg. suffix ‘-at,’ freq. for the case of euphony, take no mark of the infinitive, where it would be indispensable with the simple verb, vide Lex. Poët. Exceptional cases; hvárt sem hann vill ‘at’ verja þá sök, eða, whatever he chooses, either, Grág. i. 64; fyrr viljum vér enga kórónu at bera, en nokkut ófrelsi á oss at taka, we would rather bear no crown than …, Fms. x. 12; the context is peculiar, and the ‘at’ purposely added. It may be left out ellipt.; e. g. þá er guð gefr oss finnast (= at finnast), Dipl. ii. 14; gef honum drekka (= at drekka), Pr. 470; but mostly in unclassical writers, in deeds, or the like, written nastily and in an abrupt style.

3.

and að, conj. [Goth. þatei = οτι; A. S. þät; Engl. that; Germ, dass; the Ormul. and Scot. at, see the quotations sub voce in Jamieson; in all South-Teutonic idioms with an initial dental: the Scandinavian idioms form an exception, having all dropped this consonant; Swed. åt, Dan. at]. In Icel. the Bible translation (of the 16th century) was chiefly based upon that of Luther; the hymns and the great bulk of theol. translations of that time were also derived from Germany; therefore the germanised form það frequently appears in the Bible, and was often employed by theol. authors in sermons since the time of the Reformation. Jón Vidalin, the greatest modern Icel. preacher, who died in 1720, in spite of his thoroughly classical style, abounds in the use of this form; but it never took root in the language, and has never passed into the spoken dialect. After a relative or demonstr. pronoun, it freq. in mod. writers assumes the form eð, hver eð, hverir eð, hvað eð, þar eð. Before the prep. þú (tu), þ changes into t, and is spelt in a single word attú, which is freq. in some MS.;—now, however, pronounced aððú, aððeir, aððið …, = að þú…, with the soft Engl. th sound. It gener. answers to Lat. ut, or to the relat. pron. qui.

I. that, relative to svá, to denote proportion, degree, so…, that, Lat. tam, tantus, tot…, ut; svá mikill lagamaðr, at…, so great a lawyer, that…, Nj. 1; hárið svá mikit, at þat…, 2; svá kom um síðir því máli, at Sigvaldi, it came so far, that…, Fms. xi. 95, Edda 33. Rarely and unclass., ellipt. without svá; Bæringr var til seinn eptir honum, at hann … (= svá at), Bær. 15; hlífði honum, at hann sakaði ekki, Fas. iii. 441.

II. it is used,

1. with indic, in a narrative sense, answering partly to Gr. οτι, Lat. quod, ut, in such phrases as, it came to pass, happened that …; þat var einhverju sinni, at Höskuldr hafði vinaboð, Nj. 2; þat var á palmdrottinsdag, at Ólafr konungr gékk út um stræti, Fms. ii. 244.

2. with subj. answering to Lat. acc. with infin., to mark the relation of an object to the chief verb, e. g. vilda ek at þú réðist, I wished that you would, Nj. 57.

β. or in an oblique sentence, answering to ita ut…; ef svá kann verða at þeir láti…, if it may be so that they might…, Fms. xi. 94.

γ. with a subj. denoting design, answering to ϊνα or Lat. ut with subj., in order that; at öll veraldar bygðin viti, ut sciat totus orbis, Stj.; þeir skáru fyrir þá melinn, at þeir dæi eigi af sulti, ut ne fame perirent, Nj. 265; fyrsti hlutr bókarinnar er Kristindómsbálkr, at menn skili, in order that men may understand, Gþl. p. viii.

III. used in connection with conjunctions,

1. esp. þó, því, svá; þó at freq. contr. þótt; svát is rare and obsolete.

α. þóat, þótt (North. E. ‘thof’), followed by a subjunctive, though, although, Lat. etsi, quamquam (very freq.); þóat nokkurum mönnum sýnist þetta með freku sett… þá viljum vér, Fms. vi. 21: phrases as, gef þú mér þó at úverðugri, etsi indignae (dat.), Stj. MS. col. 315, are unclass., and influenced by the Latin: sometimes ellipt. without ‘þó,’ eigi mundi hón þá meir hvata göngu sinni, at (= þóat) hon hraeddist bana sinn, Edda 7, Nj. 64: ‘þó’ and ‘at’ separated, svarar hann þó rétt, at hann svari svá, Grág. i. 23; þó er rétt at nýta, at hann sé fyrr skorinn, answering to Engl. yet—though, Lat. attamen —etsi, K. Þ. K.

β. því at, because, Lat. nam, quia, with indic.; því at allir vóru gerfiligir synir hans, Ld. 68; því at af íþróttum verðr maðr fróðr, Sks. 16: separated, því þegi ek, at ek undrumst, Fms. iii. 201; því er þessa getið, at þat þótti, it i s mentioned because …, Ld. 68.

γ. svá at, so that, Lat. ut, ita ut; grátrinn kom upp, svá at eingi mátti öðrum segja, Edda 37: separated, so … that, svá úsvúst at …, so bad weather, that, Bs. i. 339, etc.

2. it is freq. used superfluously, esp. after relatives; hver at = hverr, quis; því at = því, igitur; hverr at þekkr ok þægiligr mun verða, Fms. v. 159; hvern stvrk at hann mundi fá, 44; ek undrumst hvé mikil ógnarraust at liggr í þér, iii. 201; því at ek mátti eigi þar vera elligar, því at þar var kristni vel haldin, Fas. i. 340.

IV. as a relat. conj.:

1. temp, when, Lat. quum; jafnan er ( est) mér þá verra er ( quum) ek fer á braut þaðan, en þá at ( quum) ek kem, Grett. 150 A; þar til at vér vitum, till we know, Fms. v. 52; þá at ek lýsta (= þá er), when, Nj. 233.

2. since, because; ek færi yðr (hann), at þér eruð í einum hrepp allir, because of your being all of the same Rape, Grág. i. 260; eigi er kynlegt at ( though) Skarphéðinn sé hraustr, at þat er mælt at…, because (since) it is a saying that…, Nj. 64.

V. in mod. writers it is also freq. superfluously joined to the conjunctions, ef að = ef, si, (Lv. 45 is from a paper MS.), meðan að = meðan, dum; nema að, nisi; fyrst að = fyrst, quoniam; eptir að, síðan að, postquam; hvárt að = hvárt, Lat. an. In the law we find passages such as, þá er um er dæmt eina sök, at þá eigu þeir aptr at ganga í dóminn, Grág. i. 79; ef þing ber á hina helgu viku, at þat á eigi fyrir þeim málum at standa, 106; þat er ok, at þeir skulu reifa mál manna, 64; at þeir skulu með váttorð þá sök sækja, 65: in all these cases ‘at’ is either superfluous or, which is more likely, of an ellipt. nature, ‘the law decrees’ or ‘it is decreed’ being understood. The passages Sks. 551, 552, 568, 718 B, at lokit (= at ek hefi lokit), at hugleitt (= at ek hefi h.), at sent (= at ek hefi sent) are quite exceptional.

4.

and að, an indecl. relat. pronoun [Ulf. þatei = ος, ος αν, οστις, οσπερ, οιος, etc.; Engl. that, Ormul. at], with the initial letter dropped, as in the conj. at, (cp. also the Old Engl. at, which is both a conj. and a pronoun, e. g. Barbour vi. 24 in Jamieson: ‘I drede that his gret wassalage, | And his travail may bring till end, | That at men quhilc full litil wend.’ | ‘His mestyr speryt quhat tithings a t he saw.’—Wyntoun v. 3. 89.) In Icel. ‘er’ (the relat. pronoun) and ‘at’ are used indifferently, so that where one MS. reads ‘er,’ another reads ‘at,’ and vice versâ; this may easily be seen by looking at the MSS.; yet as a rule ‘er’ is much more freq. used. In mod. writers ‘at’ is freq. turned into ‘eð,’ esp. as a superfluous particle after the relative pron. hverr (hver eð, hvað eð, hverir eð, etc.), or the demonstr. sá (sá eð, þeir eð, hinir eð, etc.):—who, which, that, enn bezta grip at ( which) hafði til Íslands komið, Ld. 202; en engi mun sá at ( cui) minnisamara mun vera, 242; sem blótnaut at ( quae) stærst verða, Fms. iii. 214; þau tiðendi, at mér þætti verri, Nj. 64, etc. etc.

5.

n. collision (poët.); odda at, crossing of spears, crash of spears, Höfuðl. 8.

β. a fight or bait of wild animals, esp. of horses, v. hesta-at and etja.

6.

the negative verbal suffix, v. -a.

Íslensk-ensk orðabók > AT

12 Edison, Thomas Alva

SUBJECT AREA: Architecture and building, Automotive engineering, Electricity, Electronics and information technology, Metallurgy, Photography, film and optics, Public utilities, Recording, Telecommunications

[br]

b. 11 February 1847 Milan, Ohio, USA

d. 18 October 1931 Glenmont

[br]

American inventor and pioneer electrical developer.

[br]

He was the son of Samuel Edison, who was in the timber business. His schooling was delayed due to scarlet fever until 1855, when he was 8½ years old, but he was an avid reader. By the age of 14 he had a job as a newsboy on the railway from Port Huron to Detroit, a distance of sixty-three miles (101 km). He worked a fourteen-hour day with a stopover of five hours, which he spent in the Detroit Free Library. He also sold sweets on the train and, later, fruit and vegetables, and was soon making a profit of $20 a week. He then started two stores in Port Huron and used a spare freight car as a laboratory. He added a hand-printing press to produce 400 copies weekly of The Grand Trunk Herald, most of which he compiled and edited himself. He set himself to learn telegraphy from the station agent at Mount Clements, whose son he had saved from being run over by a freight car.

At the age of 16 he became a telegraphist at Port Huron. In 1863 he became railway telegraphist at the busy Stratford Junction of the Grand Trunk Railroad, arranging a clock with a notched wheel to give the hourly signal which was to prove that he was awake and at his post! He left hurriedly after failing to hold a train which was nearly involved in a head-on collision. He usually worked the night shift, allowing himself time for experiments during the day. His first invention was an arrangement of two Morse registers so that a high-speed input could be decoded at a slower speed. Moving from place to place he held many positions as a telegraphist. In Boston he invented an automatic vote recorder for Congress and patented it, but the idea was rejected. This was the first of a total of 1180 patents that he was to take out during his lifetime. After six years he resigned from the Western Union Company to devote all his time to invention, his next idea being an improved ticker-tape machine for stockbrokers. He developed a duplex telegraphy system, but this was turned down by the Western Union Company. He then moved to New York.

Edison found accommodation in the battery room of Law's Gold Reporting Company, sleeping in the cellar, and there his repair of a broken transmitter marked him as someone of special talents. His superior soon resigned, and he was promoted with a salary of $300 a month. Western Union paid him $40,000 for the sole rights on future improvements on the duplex telegraph, and he moved to Ward Street, Newark, New Jersey, where he employed a gathering of specialist engineers. Within a year, he married one of his employees, Mary Stilwell, when she was only 16: a daughter, Marion, was born in 1872, and two sons, Thomas and William, in 1876 and 1879, respectively.

He continued to work on the automatic telegraph, a device to send out messages faster than they could be tapped out by hand: that is, over fifty words per minute or so. An earlier machine by Alexander Bain worked at up to 400 words per minute, but was not good over long distances. Edison agreed to work on improving this feature of Bain's machine for the Automatic Telegraph Company (ATC) for $40,000. He improved it to a working speed of 500 words per minute and ran a test between Washington and New York. Hoping to sell their equipment to the Post Office in Britain, ATC sent Edison to England in 1873 to negotiate. A 500-word message was to be sent from Liverpool to London every half-hour for six hours, followed by tests on 2,200 miles (3,540 km) of cable at Greenwich. Only confused results were obtained due to induction in the cable, which lay coiled in a water tank. Edison returned to New York, where he worked on his quadruplex telegraph system, tests of which proved a success between New York and Albany in December 1874. Unfortunately, simultaneous negotiation with Western Union and ATC resulted in a lawsuit.

Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for a telephone in March 1876 while Edison was still working on the same idea. His improvements allowed the device to operate over a distance of hundreds of miles instead of only a few miles. Tests were carried out over the 106 miles (170 km) between New York and Philadelphia. Edison applied for a patent on the carbon-button transmitter in April 1877, Western Union agreeing to pay him $6,000 a year for the seventeen-year duration of the patent. In these years he was also working on the development of the electric lamp and on a duplicating machine which would make up to 3,000 copies from a stencil. In 1876–7 he moved from Newark to Menlo Park, twenty-four miles (39 km) from New York on the Pennsylvania Railway, near Elizabeth. He had bought a house there around which he built the premises that would become his "inventions factory". It was there that he began the use of his 200- page pocket notebooks, each of which lasted him about two weeks, so prolific were his ideas. When he died he left 3,400 of them filled with notes and sketches.

Late in 1877 he applied for a patent for a phonograph which was granted on 19 February 1878, and by the end of the year he had formed a company to manufacture this totally new product. At the time, Edison saw the device primarily as a business aid rather than for entertainment, rather as a dictating machine. In August 1878 he was granted a British patent. In July 1878 he tried to measure the heat from the solar corona at a solar eclipse viewed from Rawlins, Wyoming, but his "tasimeter" was too sensitive.

Probably his greatest achievement was "The Subdivision of the Electric Light" or the "glow bulb". He tried many materials for the filament before settling on carbon. He gave a demonstration of electric light by lighting up Menlo Park and inviting the public. Edison was, of course, faced with the problem of inventing and producing all the ancillaries which go to make up the electrical system of generation and distribution-meters, fuses, insulation, switches, cabling—even generators had to be designed and built; everything was new. He started a number of manufacturing companies to produce the various components needed.

In 1881 he built the world's largest generator, which weighed 27 tons, to light 1,200 lamps at the Paris Exhibition. It was later moved to England to be used in the world's first central power station with steam engine drive at Holborn Viaduct, London. In September 1882 he started up his Pearl Street Generating Station in New York, which led to a worldwide increase in the application of electric power, particularly for lighting. At the same time as these developments, he built a 1,300yd (1,190m) electric railway at Menlo Park.

On 9 August 1884 his wife died of typhoid. Using his telegraphic skills, he proposed to 19-year-old Mina Miller in Morse code while in the company of others on a train. He married her in February 1885 before buying a new house and estate at West Orange, New Jersey, building a new laboratory not far away in the Orange Valley.

Edison used direct current which was limited to around 250 volts. Alternating current was largely developed by George Westinghouse and Nicola Tesla, using transformers to step up the current to a higher voltage for long-distance transmission. The use of AC gradually overtook the Edison DC system.

In autumn 1888 he patented a form of cinephotography, the kinetoscope, obtaining film-stock from George Eastman. In 1893 he set up the first film studio, which was pivoted so as to catch the sun, with a hinged roof which could be raised. In 1894 kinetoscope parlours with "peep shows" were starting up in cities all over America. Competition came from the Latham Brothers with a screen-projection machine, which Edison answered with his "Vitascope", shown in New York in 1896. This showed pictures with accompanying sound, but there was some difficulty with synchronization. Edison also experimented with captions at this early date.

In 1880 he filed a patent for a magnetic ore separator, the first of nearly sixty. He bought up deposits of low-grade iron ore which had been developed in the north of New Jersey. The process was a commercial success until the discovery of iron-rich ore in Minnesota rendered it uneconomic and uncompetitive. In 1898 cement rock was discovered in New Village, west of West Orange. Edison bought the land and started cement manufacture, using kilns twice the normal length and using half as much fuel to heat them as the normal type of kiln. In 1893 he met Henry Ford, who was building his second car, at an Edison convention. This started him on the development of a battery for an electric car on which he made over 9,000 experiments. In 1903 he sold his patent for wireless telegraphy "for a song" to Guglielmo Marconi.

In 1910 Edison designed a prefabricated concrete house. In December 1914 fire destroyed three-quarters of the West Orange plant, but it was at once rebuilt, and with the threat of war Edison started to set up his own plants for making all the chemicals that he had previously been buying from Europe, such as carbolic acid, phenol, benzol, aniline dyes, etc. He was appointed President of the Navy Consulting Board, for whom, he said, he made some forty-five inventions, "but they were pigeonholed, every one of them". Thus did Edison find that the Navy did not take kindly to civilian interference.

In 1927 he started the Edison Botanic Research Company, founded with similar investment from Ford and Firestone with the object of finding a substitute for overseas-produced rubber. In the first year he tested no fewer than 3,327 possible plants, in the second year, over 1,400, eventually developing a variety of Golden Rod which grew to 14 ft (4.3 m) in height. However, all this effort and money was wasted, due to the discovery of synthetic rubber.

In October 1929 he was present at Henry Ford's opening of his Dearborn Museum to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the incandescent lamp, including a replica of the Menlo Park laboratory. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and was elected to the American Academy of Sciences. He died in 1931 at his home, Glenmont; throughout the USA, lights were dimmed temporarily on the day of his funeral.

[br]

Principal Honours and Distinctions

Member of the American Academy of Sciences. Congressional Gold Medal.

Further Reading

M.Josephson, 1951, Edison, Eyre \& Spottiswode.

R.W.Clark, 1977, Edison, the Man who Made the Future, Macdonald \& Jane.

IMcN

Biographical history of technology > Edison, Thomas Alva

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Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

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it was probably about six o'clock

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Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

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it was probably about six o'clock

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