used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
(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 He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
ApplenounUS /ˈæpəl/
fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
beefnounUS /biːf/
cattle that are reared for their meat
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
ChristmasesnounUS /ˈkrɪsməsɪz/
plural of “christmas” — period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
Currantnoun
any of several tart red or black berries used primarily for jellies and jams
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
digestiveadjectiveUS /daɪˈdʒestɪv/
relating to or having the power to cause or promote digestion
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
farenounUS /fer/
an agenda of things to do
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
goodlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdli/
large in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
a social unit living together
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
householdsnounUS /ˈhaʊshoʊldz/
plural of “household” — a social unit living together
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
Mayfair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
MinceverbUS /mɪns/
make less severe or harsh
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
nutsadjectiveUS /nʌts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
something you have to do
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
orangesnounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒəz/
plural of “orange” — round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
patientsnounUS /ˈpeɪʃənts/
plural of “patient” — a person who requires medical care
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
piesnounUS /paɪz/
plural of “pie” — dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
plumadverbUS /plʌm/
exactly
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
puddingnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋ/
any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
roastverbUS /roʊst/
cook with dry heat, usually in an oven
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
rooflessadjective
not having a roof
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
deliver by singing
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
slabsnounUS /slæbz/
plural of “slab” — block consisting of a thick piece of something
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
in the near future
From this reading “Apple pies in Autumn, Currant pies in June; Mince pies at Christmas, Coming very soon!”
spasmodicadjectiveUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪk/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
taxedverbUS /tækst/
past form of “tax” — levy a tax on
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
unisonnounUS /ˈjuːnəsən/
corresponding exactly
From this reading He had had one specially happy Christmas in hospital, and there lingered in his memory a song of goodly fare which all the little patients had been taught to sing in unison:
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
under normal conditions
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
precisely as stated
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
well-fedadjective
properly nourished
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
which person or people
From this reading There were few London households in which Christmas had been “merry,” and the lack of festive doings had necessarily extended to those who are of the roofless household of the streets.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Billy of Mayfair, in his brief career, had had some “well-fed” Christmases--the roast beef of old England, solid slabs of plum pudding, with oranges and nuts to follow.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Thanks to the spasmodic attention of kindly people, the boy’s digestive machinery, which usually had very little to work upon, on those special occasions had been taxed to its utmost capacity.
