1855
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 31st,_ 1855.
31st
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 31st,_ 1855.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
aboundverbUS /əˈbaʊnd/
be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
the two together, not just one
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
counteractionnoun
action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
DecnounUS /dek/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading _Dec.
festivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
grumbleverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəl/
show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
Hogmanaynoun
New Year's Eve in Scotland
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
honouredverbUS /ˈɑːnərd/
past form of “honour” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
merry-making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
observancenounUS /əbˈzɜːrvəns/
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
ScotchnounUS /skɑːtʃ/
a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
interact in a certain way
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
at the time that
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
which person or people
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading But why grumble, when I am one of the few people who pretend to work at all on this holiday--a night which used to be such a treat to us boys.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading |The merry-making of my neighbours in the flat above--probably Scotch or Irish, both of which greatly abound in this town--is a sad counteraction of work for to-night.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The sounds overhead put me in mind of that old festival of Hogmanay, which, for a good many things, would be “more honoured in the breach than the observance.”
