used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
clothing in general
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
approval
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/
third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
despisedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspaɪzd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
characterized by great determination
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
discardedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɑːrdɪd/
thrown away
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
handyadjectiveUS /ˈhændi/
easy to reach
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
plural of “keep” — the financial means whereby one lives
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
pincersnounUS /ˈpɪnsərz/
plural of “pincer” — a hand tool for holding consisting of a compound lever for grasping
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
razornounUS /ˈreɪzər/
edge tool used in shaving
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
savesnounUS /seɪvz/
plural of “save” — (sports) the act of preventing the opposition from scoring
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
scissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
not often
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
spectatornounUS /ˈspekteɪtər/
a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
spoilsnounUS /spɔɪlz/
plural of “spoil” — (usually plural) valuables taken by violence (especially in war)
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
strapnounUS /stræp/
an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
toolsnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading Though he is not the handy man of his claim, he certainly deserves credit for keeping handy tools.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
being of use or service
From this reading He always keeps a pair of scissors, a razor, strap, brush, pincers, and many other useful things, and he is seldom short of nails.
precisely as stated
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Wherever he finds discarded boots or clothes, he cuts patches and saves them for emergency.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
which person or people
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The handy man, though he often spoils good things which, with a little professional care, might be made almost as good as new, is not to be altogether despised.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But to one who is determined to do without his services, he is often a very unpleasant spectator.
