used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Here am I!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
beforehandadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɔːrhænd/
being ahead of time or need
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
cleverlyadverbUS /ˈklevərli/
in a clever manner
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
Dullardnoun
a person who is not very bright
From this reading "Hallo!" shouted Jack the Dullard.
extemporeadjective
with little or no preparation or forethought
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
set up or found
From this reading Look what I have found on the high road."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
Hallo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hallo!" shouted Jack the Dullard.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Here am I!
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Look what I have found on the high road."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Here am I!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Hallo!" shouted Jack the Dullard.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Look what I have found on the high road."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Look what I have found on the high road."
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "Hallo!" shouted Jack the Dullard.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading But his brothers rode slowly on in advance of him.
speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/
plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Look what I have found on the high road."
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They spoke not a word, for they were thinking about the fine extempore speeches they would have to bring out, and these had to be cleverly prepared beforehand.