1 definition by Lisa Garland
1. a. Used before singular or plural nouns and noun phrases that denote particular, specified persons or things.
b. Used before a noun, and generally stressed, to emphasize one of a group or type as the most outstanding or prominent.
c. Used to indicate uniqueness.
d. Used before nouns that designate natural phenomena or points of the compass.
e. Used as the equivalent of a possessive adjective before names of some parts of the body.
f. Used before a noun specifying a field of endeavor.
g. Used before a proper name, as of a monument or ship.
h. Used before the plural form of a numeral denoting a specific decade of a century or of a life span.
i. Used before a singular noun indicating that the noun is generic.
2. a. Used before an adjective extending it to signify a class and giving it the function of a noun.
b. Used before an absolute adjective.
c. Used before a present participle, signifying the action in the abstract.
d. Used before a noun with the force of per.
b. Used before a noun, and generally stressed, to emphasize one of a group or type as the most outstanding or prominent.
c. Used to indicate uniqueness.
d. Used before nouns that designate natural phenomena or points of the compass.
e. Used as the equivalent of a possessive adjective before names of some parts of the body.
f. Used before a noun specifying a field of endeavor.
g. Used before a proper name, as of a monument or ship.
h. Used before the plural form of a numeral denoting a specific decade of a century or of a life span.
i. Used before a singular noun indicating that the noun is generic.
2. a. Used before an adjective extending it to signify a class and giving it the function of a noun.
b. Used before an absolute adjective.
c. Used before a present participle, signifying the action in the abstract.
d. Used before a noun with the force of per.
1a: the baby; the dress I wore.
1b: considered Lake Shore Drive to be the neighborhood to live in these days.
1c. the Prince of Wales; the moon.
1d. the weather; a wind from the south.
1e. grab him by the neck; an infection of the hand.
1f. the law; the film industry; the stage.
1g. the Alamo; the Titanic.
1h. rural life in the Thirties.
1i. The wolf is an endangered species.
2a. the rich; the dead; the homeless.
2b. the best we can offer.
2c. the weaving of rugs.
2d. cherries at $1.50 the box.
1b: considered Lake Shore Drive to be the neighborhood to live in these days.
1c. the Prince of Wales; the moon.
1d. the weather; a wind from the south.
1e. grab him by the neck; an infection of the hand.
1f. the law; the film industry; the stage.
1g. the Alamo; the Titanic.
1h. rural life in the Thirties.
1i. The wolf is an endangered species.
2a. the rich; the dead; the homeless.
2b. the best we can offer.
2c. the weaving of rugs.
2d. cherries at $1.50 the box.
by Lisa Garland May 23, 2003