used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
advertisingnounUS /ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ/
a public promotion of some product or service
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
billboardsnounUS /ˈbɪlbɔːrdz/
plural of “billboard” — large outdoor signboard
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
CircusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
CornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
at any time
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
to or in any or all places
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
life-sizeadjective
being of the same size as an original
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
lordlyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːrdliː/
of or befitting a lord
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
managernounUS /ˈmænədʒər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
monkeysnounUS /ˈmʌŋkiz/
plural of “monkey” — any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
ruledadjectiveUS /ruːld/
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
in the near future
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
troupenounUS /truːp/
organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical)
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
(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 From the lordly way he ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
at the time that
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
WhiskersnounUS /ˈwɪskərz/
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size pictures of himself and his troupe.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When he gazed for the first time in his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor.
WRECKnounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading THE WRECK Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show that made him more famous than ever before.
