used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
(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 "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "No," said the witch; "but I do not ask for a single penny.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Now tie the rope round my body."
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
grandmothernounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
immediately past
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
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 Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
not any; not one
From this reading "No," said the witch; "but I do not ask for a single penny.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now tie the rope round my body."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
and nothing more
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
pennynounUS /ˈpeni/
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading "No," said the witch; "but I do not ask for a single penny.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
a strong line
From this reading Now tie the rope round my body."
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Now tie the rope round my body."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading "No," said the witch; "but I do not ask for a single penny.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
express in words
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
in or at that place or location
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading Now tie the rope round my body."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
tinder-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
precisely as stated
From this reading "Very well; I promise.
(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 "Very well; I promise.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Only promise to bring me an old tinder-box, which my grandmother left behind the last time she went down there."
witchnounUS /wɪtʃ/
a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "This is not a bad story," said the soldier; "but what am I to give you, you old witch? for, of course, you do not mean to tell me all this for nothing."
