Meaning of the


Pronunciation: (stressed ē unstressed before a consonant &schwa unstressed before a vowel ē), [key]
— definite article.
  2. (used to mark a proper noun, natural phenomenon, ship, building, time, point of the compass, branch of endeavor, or field of study as something well-known or unique):Queen Elizabeth; the sun; the Alps; the
  12. (used distributively, to note any one separately) for, to, or in each; a or an: at one dollar the pound.


Pronunciation: [key]
— adv. (before a consonant before a vowel
  1. (used to modify an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree and to signify “in or by that,” “on that account,” “in or by so much,” or “in some or any degree”): He's been on vacation and looks the better for it.
  2. (used in correlative constructions to modify an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree, in one instance with relative force and in the other with demonstrative force, and signifying “by how much … by so much” or “in what degree … in that degree”): the more the merrier; The bigger they are, the harder they fall.


Pronunciation: [key]
  1. var. ofbefore a vowel: thearchy.