(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 Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
in a state of sleep
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Not that I believed in ghosts.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
BubblesnounUS /ˈbʌbəlz/
plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
DownstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
Fergus's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Not that I believed in ghosts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
on one occasion
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But once in, I could not get it out.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
preposterousadjectiveUS /prɪˈpɑːstərəs/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
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 Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Downstairs before the big fire I had laughed as loud as any one, and been as sure as sure could be that Fergus's story was all an invention of his fertile imagination.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I do not know what evil genius put the thought of Bubbles into my head.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading But, somehow, now that the lights were out, and the fellows all asleep, and the wind was moaning outside, and I lay sleepless on my bed, it did not seem so utterly preposterous.
