used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
ashnounUS /æʃ/
the residue that remains when something is burned
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
forefingernounUS /ˈfɔːrfɪŋɡər/
the finger next to the thumb
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
Hardinge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
irrepressibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈpresəbəl/
impossible to repress or control
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
knocksnounUS /nɑːks/
plural of “knock” — the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
leansnounUS /liːnz/
plural of “lean” — the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
meditatingverbUS /ˈmedəteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “meditate” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
a particular point in time
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
in the near future
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
wardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He knocks the ash off his cigar, and after meditating for a moment, leans back in his chair and gives way to irrepressible mirth.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
which person or people
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
belonging to which person
From this reading "He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I don't see why I shouldn't have a wife as well as another," says the professor, idly tapping his forefinger on the table near him.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading I could quite as soon imagine your having a wife," says Hardinge.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "The idea of _your_ having a ward!
