used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading REVENGE OF A DIFFERENT SORT.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
(Old Testament) in Judeo-Christian mythology; the first man and the husband of Eve and the progenitor of the human race
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
beginningsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋz/
plural of “beginning” — the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
rid of obstructions
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading REVENGE OF A DIFFERENT SORT.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
divisible by two
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
at any time
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
the act of departing
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
not any; not one
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
no person; not anyone
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading REVENGE OF A DIFFERENT SORT.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
and nothing more
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
prophetnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
an authoritative person who divines the future
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
action taken in return for an injury or offense
From this reading REVENGE OF A DIFFERENT SORT.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
in or at or to some place
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading REVENGE OF A DIFFERENT SORT.
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 No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
express in words
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
in or at the place that
From this reading No matter where one begins to tell a story there is always something back of the beginning that must be told for the sake of making the matter clear.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The only way to tell a story then is to plunge into it somewhere as I did two chapters back, follow it until we get hold of it, and then go back and explain how it came about before going on with it.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The only way I can think of by which a whole story could be told would be to begin back at Adam and Eve and work on down to the present time; and even then the story would not be finished and nobody but a prophet ever could finish it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Whatever you tell, something else must have happened before it and something else before that and something else before that, so that there is really no end to the beginnings that might be made.
