Grammar & Function Words
Small words that connect, point, compare, negate, and structure sentences.
319 words
Download MarkdownSome words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProA1 (114)
you
A1
/jə/
The person or people being spoken to, as the subject of a sentence.
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I
A1
/aɪ/
The word a speaker or writer uses to refer to themselves as the subject of a sentence.
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the
A1
/ðə/
Used before a noun to refer to a specific person or thing already known or mentioned.
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to
A1
/tuː/
In the direction of; so as to reach a place.
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a
A1
/eɪ/
used before a noun to refer to one person or thing that is not specific or not already known
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it
A1
/ɪt/
Used to refer to a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
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and
A1
/ænd/
Used to join two words, phrases, or sentences that are taken together.
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that
A1
/ðət/
Used to introduce a clause stating what someone says, thinks, or believes.
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of
A1
/ʌv/
Belonging to or connected with someone or something.
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is
A1
/ɪz/
Third-person singular present tense of be
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in
A1
/ɪn/
Inside a place, container, or area.
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what
A1
/wʌt/
Used to ask for information about a thing or situation.
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we
A1
/wi/
Used by a speaker to refer to themselves and one or more other people.
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me
A1
/mi/
The form of 'I' used as the object of a verb or preposition.
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this
A1
/ðɪs/
Referring to a person or thing that is here or nearby.
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he
A1
/ˈhiː/
Used to refer to a male person or animal already mentioned or known.
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for
A1
/fɔɹ/
Intended to belong to or be given to someone.
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my
A1
/maɪ/
Belonging to or connected with me.
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on
A1
/ɔn/
Working, active, or switched to operate.
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have
A1
/hæv/
To own or possess something.
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your
A1
/jɔː(ɹ)/
Belonging to or connected with you.
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was
A1
/wəz/
Past tense of "be" used with I, he, she, or it.
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no
A1
/noʊ/
Used to give a negative answer or to refuse or disagree.
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not
A1
/nɑt/
Used to make a word or sentence negative.
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A2 (61) Pro
been
A2
/bɪn/
Past participle of be.
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done
A2
/dʊn/
Finished or completed.
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being
A2
/ˈbi.ɪŋ/
A living creature.
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might
A2
/maɪt/
Used to say that something is possible but not certain.
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next
A2
/nɛkst/
Coming immediately after the current one in order or time.
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without
A2
/wɪθˈaʊt/
Not having or not using something.
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such
A2
/sʌt͡ʃ/
Of this or that kind; like the one mentioned.
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yet
A2
/ˈjɛt/
Up to now; used to say something has not happened so far.
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while
A2
/ʍaɪl/
During the time that; at the same time as.
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since
A2
/sɪn(t)s/
From a point in the past until now.
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ah
A2
/ɑː/
An exclamation used to show feelings such as understanding, relief, surprise, or wonder.
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myself
A2
/maɪˈsɛlf/
Used as the object of a verb or preposition when the speaker is also the subject.
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um
A2
/ʌm/
a sound used while hesitating, thinking, or searching for words
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few
A2
/fjuː/
A small number of; not many.
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whatever
A2
/wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/
Anything or everything that.
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somebody
A2
/ˈsʌmbˌʌdi/
A person who is not named or known; someone.
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mine
A2
/maɪ̯n/
The thing or things belonging to me.
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against
A2
/əˈɡɛ̟nst/
Touching or leaning on something for support.
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shall
A2
/ʃæl/
Used with I or we to talk about the future.
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least
A2
/list/
To the smallest degree or amount.
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nobody
A2
/ˈnoʊbədi/
No person; not anyone.
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though
A2
/ðoʊ/
Used to introduce a fact that makes the main statement surprising; even if; although.
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yours
A2
/jɔɹz/
The thing or things belonging to you.
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either
A2
/ˈaɪ.ðɚ/
One or the other of two things or people.
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B1 (46) Pro
unless
B1
/ənˈlɛs/
Except if; used to say something will happen if a condition is not met.
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buddy
B1
/ˈbʌd.i/
A friend
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whether
B1
/ˈwɛðə(ɹ)/
Used to introduce a choice or doubt between two or more possibilities.
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yo
B1
/joʊ/
informal: a greeting or call used to attract someone's attention
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according
B1
/əˈkɔɹ.dɪŋ/
according to: as stated, reported, or believed by a particular person or source
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whoever
B1
/huˈɛvɚ/
Any person that; the person that.
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nor
B1
/nɔɹ/
And not; used after "neither" or another negative to add a second negative idea.
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ought
B1
/ʊt/
Used to say that something is the right or sensible thing to do.
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onto
B1
/ˈɑn.tu/
To a position on top of or on the surface of something.
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ours
B1
/ˈaʊɚz/
The thing or things that belong to us.
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whenever
B1
/wəˈnɛvɚ/
At any time that; on any occasion that.
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including
B1
/ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/
Used to mention one or more members of a larger group just named.
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per
B1
/pɝ/
For each.
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wherever
B1
/(h)wɛɹˈɛvɚ/
In, at, or to any place that.
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despite
B1
/dɪˈspaɪt/
Without being affected or stopped by something; in spite of.
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throughout
B1
/θɹuːˈaʊt/
In every part of a place.
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underneath
B1
/ˌʌndɚˈniθ/
Directly below or under something.
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forth
B1
/fɔɹθ/
Forward in place, time, or order.
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beneath
B1
/bɪˈniːθ/
Under or below something.
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provided
B1
/prəˈvaɪdəd/
Only if a particular condition is met.
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various
B1
/ˈvɛəɹi.əs/
Several different; more than one of various kinds.
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regarding
B1
/ɹɪˈɡɑɹdɪŋ/
About; concerning a particular subject.
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fur
B1
/fɝ/
The soft, thick hair that covers many animals.
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via
B1
/ˈvaɪə/
By way of; passing through a place.
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B2 (24) Pro
times
B2
/tɑemz/
A particular period in history or in someone's life.
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em
B2
/əm/
an informal, usually unstressed form of them, commonly written ’em
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considering
B2
/kənˈsɪdəɹɪŋ/
Taking a particular fact into account.
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beside
B2
/bɪˈsaɪd/
Next to; at the side of.
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multiple
B2
/ˈmʌltɪpəl/
More than one; many.
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amongst
B2
/əˈmɜŋst/
In the middle of or surrounded by; a more formal word for "among".
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somewhat
B2
/ˈsʌmwʌt/
To a small degree; a little, but not completely.
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versus
B2
/ˈvɝsəs/
Against; used to show two sides competing or opposing each other.
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regardless
B2
/ɹɪˈɡɑɹd.lɪs/
In spite of everything; anyway.
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unto
B2
/ˈʌntə/
To (old or formal use, showing who receives something)
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instantly
B2
/ˈɪnstəntli/
Immediately; without any delay.
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whereas
B2
/(h)wɛɹˈæz/
Used to compare two facts and show a contrast between them.
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alongside
B2
/əˌlɔŋˈsaɪd/
Next to and at the side of something or someone.
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concerning
B2
/kənˈsɝnɪŋ/
about; relating to
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particle
B2
/ˈpɑɹtɪkəl/
A very small piece of something.
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adequate
B2
/ˈæd.ə.kwɪt/
enough in amount or good enough for a particular purpose
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lest
B2
/lɛst/
In order to prevent something bad from happening; for fear that.
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ample
B2
/ˈæmpəl/
More than enough; plenty.
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insufficient
B2
/ɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
Not enough for a particular purpose or need.
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atop
B2
/əˈtɑːp/
on or at the top of something
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predicate
B2
/ˈpɹɛd.ɪ.kɪt/
In grammar, the part of a sentence or clause that says something about the subject, usually containing the verb.
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exclamation mark
B2
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inverted commas
B2
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owing to
B2
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C1 (8) Pro
whatsoever
C1
/ˌ(h)wʌtsoʊˈɛvɚ/
At all; in any way (used to add emphasis, usually after a negative).
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whilst
C1
/ʍaɪlst/
During the time that; while (chiefly British and formal).
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adjacent
C1
/əˈd͡ʒeɪ.sənt/
Next to or very close to something.
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amid
C1
/əˈmɪd/
In the middle of; surrounded by.
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albeit
C1
/ɔlˈbi.ət/
Although; even though.
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sans
C1
/sænz/
without a person or thing, often used for concise, humorous, or literary effect
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notwithstanding
C1
/ˌnɑtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/
In spite of; despite.
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such-and-such
C1
/ˈsʌtʃənˌsʌtʃ/
used to refer vaguely to a person, thing, place, or amount whose exact identity is not specified
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C2 (25) Pro
yah
C2
/jɑː/
a dialect or eye-dialect spelling of you
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yer
C2
/jɚ/
nonstandard pronunciation spelling of your
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nigh
C2
/naɪ/
Near in time or space; close at hand.
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thyself
C2
/ðaɪˈsɛlf/
the reflexive or emphatic form of thou, meaning yourself; archaic or literary
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yon
C2
/jɑn/
that or those over there, at some distance but usually within sight
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lor
C2
/lɔɹ/
a sentence-final particle in Singapore and Malaysian English that emphasizes an obvious conclusion, resignation, or inevitability
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summat
C2
/ˈsʌm.ət/
something, in nonstandard Northern and Midlands English
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ut
C2
/uːt/
music: the original solfege name for the first note of a major scale, now usually called do
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owt
C2
/aʊt/
Northern English dialect: anything
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ourself
C2
/ˌaʊɚˈsɛlf/
the reflexive form used with the royal or editorial we, meaning myself
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astride
C2
/əˈstraɪd/
with one leg on each side of something
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nary
C2
/ˈnɛri/
informal or dialectal: not a single; not any, used before a singular count noun
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whereof
C2
/wɛrˈʌv/
of which or of whom; now chiefly formal or archaic
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vis-a-vis
C2
/ˈviːzəvi/
In relation to; compared with.
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suchlike
C2
/ˈsʌtʃˌlaɪk/
of the same or a similar kind
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whereon
C2
/(h)wɛrˈɑn/
on which or on what; now chiefly formal, literary, or archaic
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agin
C2
/əˈɡɪn/
a dialect spelling of again
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whoso
C2
/ˈhuːˌsoʊ/
archaic: whoever; whatever person
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athwart
C2
/əˈθwɔrt/
from one side of something to the other; across, often at an oblique angle
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whereat
C2
/wɛɹˈæt/
at which place or thing; at what, in formal or archaic use
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abaft
C2
/əˈbæft/
at, near, or toward the stern of a ship
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astraddle
C2
/əˈstrædəl/
dated or regional: with one leg on each side of something; astride
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agean
C2
/əˈɡɛn/
dialectal pronunciation spelling of again
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e.g.
C2
/ˌiˈd͡ʒi/
written abbreviation of Latin exempli gratia, used to introduce one or more examples
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C2+ (41) Pro
whereupon
C2+
/ˌ(h)wɛrəˈpɑn/
immediately after which or as a consequence of which
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qua
C2+
/kwɑː/
formal: in the capacity or character of; considered specifically as
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afront
C2+
/əˈfrʌnt/
archaic or dialectal: in front or face to face
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anigh
C2+
/əˈnai/
archaic or dialectal: near or close by
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anent
C2+
/əˈnent/
concerning or with regard to; used chiefly in Scots and formal or archaic writing
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aught
C2+
/ɔt/
anything at all; the slightest thing
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apropos
C2+
/ˌæprəˈpoʊ/
relevant to the matter; with reference to
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mid
C2+
/mɪd/
in the middle part of; central
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sith
C2+
/sɪθ/
archaic word for since or seeing that
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amidst
C2+
/əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
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fromward
C2+
/ˈfrʌmwɚd/
away from; directed away (archaic)
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howso
C2+
/ˈhaʊsoʊ/
in whatever way; however (archaic)
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sithe
C2+
/saɪð/
an archaic form of 'since'; also a dialectal variant of scythe
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afore
C2+
/əˈfɔr/
before, in place or time (archaic or dialectal)
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barring
C2+
/ˈbɑrɪŋ/
except for; apart from the possibility of
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betwixt
C2+
/bɪˈtwɪkst/
between (archaic or literary)
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circa
C2+
/ˈsɚkə/
approximately; used with dates to indicate an estimate
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ere
C2+
/ɛr/
before (in time)
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howbeit
C2+
/haʊˈbiɪt/
nevertheless; be that as it may
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howsoever
C2+
/ˌhaʊsoʊˈɛvɚ/
in whatever way or to whatever degree
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outwith
C2+
/ˌaʊtˈwɪθ/
outside of or beyond (chiefly Scots usage)
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pending
C2+
/ˈpɛndɪŋ/
awaiting decision or settlement; until
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sithence
C2+
/ˈsɪðəns/
archaic word meaning since, afterward, or because
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whence
C2+
/wɛns/
from what place or source
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