used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
asksverbUS /æsks/
third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
beggarnounUS /ˈbeɡər/
a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
beggingnounUS /ˈbeɡɪŋ/
a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
continuesverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːz/
third-person singular of “continue” — continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
coppersnounUS /ˈkɑːpərz/
plural of “copper” — a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
take in solid food
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
encumberedadjectiveUS /enˈkʌmbərd/
loaded to excess or impeded by a heavy load
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
halfpennynoun
an English coin worth half a penny
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
absolutely essential
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
not divisible by two
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
many times at short intervals
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
point-blankadjective
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
on the contrary
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
express in words
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
not often
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
in the near future
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
carry out
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
throwsnounUS /θroʊz/
plural of “throw” — the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
two-penny-worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For that reason he always asks for food, and then gets an odd penny here and there--which he would not get if he asked for money.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
in the company of; together with
From this reading But it is often necessary to beg so much food in getting a few coppers for his lodging and a little tea and tobacco, that he soon gets encumbered with more food than he can hide or eat.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
workhousenoun
a poorhouse where able-bodied poor are compelled to labor
From this reading In this case he cannot continue begging--which he must, or go into the workhouse--so he throws the food away and continues to beg more of it, in the hope of getting money for his bed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading People seldom take into consideration that he needs a bed, and they would often rather give him two-penny-worth of food than a halfpenny in money.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now a beggar knows that if he asks at a house point-blank for money, nothing will he get; or, occasionally a woman will say, "I will give you something to eat."
