used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
how long something has existed
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
a youthful male person
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
defiantlyadverbUS /dɪˈfaɪəntli/
in a rebellious manner
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
elicitedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlɪsɪtɪd/
called forth from a latent or potential state by stimulation
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
inabilitynounUS /ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti/
lack of ability (especially mental ability) to do something
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
a boy or man
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
Lewes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
as might be expected
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
not any; not one
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
ReubennounUS /ˈruːbən/
(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I don't care if I do," he said defiantly.
an educational institution
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
SussexnounUS /ˈsʌsɪks/
a county in southern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom that was captured by Wessex in the 9th century
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
TippingverbUS /ˈtɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “tip” — cause to tilt
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
vexationnoun
anger produced by some annoying irritation
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
WhitneynounUS /ˈwɪtni/
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
in the company of; together with
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words followed a shower of cuts with the cane.
wringverbUS /rɪŋ/
twist and press out of shape
From this reading The speaker was an elderly man, the master of the village school of Tipping, near Lewes, in Sussex; and the words were elicited, in no small degree, by the vexation of the speaker at his inability to wring a cry from the boy whom he was striking.
a late time of life
From this reading He was a lad of some thirteen years of age, with a face naturally bright and intelligent; but at present quivering with anger.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are the most troublesome boy in the village, Reuben Whitney, and you will come to a bad end."
