used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
arguesverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːz/
third-person singular of “argue” — present reasons and arguments
From this reading You do not tell me _what_ she argues, and I do not ask.
argumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/
plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading You do not tell me _what_ she argues, and I do not ask.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
dearly loved
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
chaffverbUS /tʃæf/
be silly or tease one another
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
and nothing more
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You do not tell me _what_ she argues, and I do not ask.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
and nothing more
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
overtadjectiveUS /oʊˈvɜːrt/
open and observable; not secret or hidden
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You do not tell me _what_ she argues, and I do not ask.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
move stealthily
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
express in words
From this reading You do not tell me _what_ she argues, and I do not ask.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
up to a particular time
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
trucenounUS /truːs/
a state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms
From this reading That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
vexverbUS /veks/
cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
(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 That is well, dearest, that is well indeed: a truce till February!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading You do not tell me _what_ she argues, and I do not ask.
at the time that
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
in or at the place that
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
produce a literary work
From this reading Beloved: If two days slip by, I don't know where I am when I come to write; things get so crowded in such a short space of time.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And since the struggle then must needs be a sharp one--with only one end, as we know,--do not vex her now by any overt signs of preparation as if you assumed already that her final arguments were to be as so much chaff before the wind.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Where I left off I know not: I will begin where I am most awake--your letter which I have just received.
