used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
(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 It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
CLARE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLARE THE DEFENDER.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
DEFENDERnounUS /dɪˈfendər/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading CLARE THE DEFENDER.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
an opposing military force
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
not in action or at work
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
insolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnsələnt/
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
a boy or man
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
and nothing more
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
peaceableadjectiveUS /ˈpiːsəbəl/
inclined or disposed to peace
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
a human being
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
restrainverbUS /riˈstreɪn/
to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
sneeringadjectiveUS /ˈsnɪrɪŋ/
expressive of contempt
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLARE THE DEFENDER.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
a source of difficulty
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
uninhabitableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbətəbəl/
not fit for habitation
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
vicarnounUS /ˈvɪkər/
a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman
From this reading It was all the peaceable vicar could do to keep his hands off him.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading He was a big, idle, sneering, insolent lad--such that had there been two more of the sort, they would have made the village uninhabitable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This enemy was a trouble, more or less, to every decent person in the neighbourhood.
(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 It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was well his mother was a widow, for where she was only powerless to restrain, the father would have encouraged.
