used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
a-begging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
any person at all
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
brothnounUS /brɔːθ/
liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
clasping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
usually; as a rule
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
engage in
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
nailverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
and nothing more
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
on the contrary
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
Identical; not different.
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
squatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "That's something for poor people to know," she said, "and I should like to learn how to make it."
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
precisely as stated
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
look attentively
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
(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 The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading "This generally makes good broth," he said; "but this time it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with the same nail.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the like before.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading "That which is not worth having will always go a-begging," said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring the broth.
