used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
admirernounUS /ædˈmaɪrər/
a person who backs a politician or a team etc.
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
gettin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
ill-naturedadjective
having an irritable and unpleasant disposition
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
mopverbUS /mɑːp/
to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
more'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
Nathan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
not any; not one
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
offensiveadjectiveUS /əˈfensɪv/
violating or tending to violate or offend against
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
parablenounUS /ˈperəbəl/
a short moral story (often with animal characters)
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
spatteredadjectiveUS /ˈspætərd/
covered with bright patches (often used in combination)
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
TemperancenounUS /ˈtempərəns/
the trait of avoiding excesses
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
Thereupon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
propel through the air
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading Thereupon Temperance rattled her dishes violently with an energy almost offensive.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her remarks were in the nature of a parable intended to impress upon her admirer her superiority to, and contempt for, ill-natured gossip.
wind'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throw dirt and the wind’ll carry it back in your own eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You never can wash your hands clean in dirty water,” said Temperance to Nathan, “no more’n you can wash a floor with a dirty mop.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading You can’t splash mud without gettin’ spattered yourself.”
