used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
(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 “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
react verbally
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
collegesnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪdʒɪz/
plural of “college” — the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
dearly loved
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
DISAGREEABLEadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
falsehoodsnounUS /ˈfælshʊdz/
plural of “falsehood” — a false statement
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
a boy or man
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
Fobbington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
graduateverbUS /ˈɡrædʒəwət/
receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
helmsmannounUS /ˈhelmzmæn/
the person who steers a ship
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
incomenounUS /ˈɪnkʌm/
the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
the sound of laughing
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
a form of address for a man
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
one-twentieth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
piazzanounUS /piˈæzə/
a public square with room for pedestrians
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
proportionnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃən/
the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
proprietynounUS /prəˈpraɪəti/
correct or appropriate behavior
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
quickeradverbUS /ˈkwɪkər/
more quickly
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
REVELATIONnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
ridiculouslyadverbUS /rəˈdɪkjələsli/
so as to arouse or deserve laughter
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
riotousadjectiveUS /ˈraɪətəs/
produced or growing in extreme abundance
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
ScripturenounUS /ˈskrɪptʃər/
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
spendingnounUS /ˈspendɪŋ/
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
a quantity of money
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
express in words
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “You are quite right so far as time is concerned, though I did tell you some truth; but the proportion to the lies was ridiculously small,” answered the helmsman with a laugh.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
truthsnounUS /truːθs/
plural of “truth” — a fact that has been verified
From this reading Probably you could tell me the truths in your story quicker than you could the falsehoods.”
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
yarnsnounUS /jɑːrnz/
plural of “yarn” — the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading “I am a graduate of one of the colleges of Oxford; I spent a year in Paris; I had a fortune of about one-twentieth of the sum I mentioned, but I spent it all in ‘riotous living,’ as the Scripture has it; I never had the least difficulty in spending my income, and should not have had if it had been ten times as great.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Was there any truth in those yarns you reeled off to me on the piazza of the hotel?
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE REVELATION “Certainly, my dear fellow, I will answer your questions if I can do so with propriety,” said Mr. Fobbington in reply to Louis.
