used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
have
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
confined by bonds
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
cunningadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
damenounUS /deɪm/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
DobbinnounUS /ˈdɑːbɪn/
a quiet plodding workhorse
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
divisible by two
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I gave him my word I would.”
geesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
the act of departing
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
hasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
Haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I gave him my word I would.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I gave him my word I would.”
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I gave him my word I would.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
and nothing more
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
sheep-stall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading “Wether, indeed,” said the old dame; “never a one shall that thief of a Fox get.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
wethernoun
male sheep especially a castrated one
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
WhitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading “Whither away, now?” asked his old dame.
which person or people
From this reading “Oh!” said the man, “I’m only going to the sheep-stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning Fox, who set our Dobbin free.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading I gave him my word I would.”
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Haven’t we got Dobbin safe, and the bear into the bargain; and as for the Fox, I’ll be bound he’s stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth; and even if he hasn’t stolen them, he will.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I gave him my word I would.”
