used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading Sometimes they get things to do ashore.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
for the reason that
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
berthsnounUS /bɜːrθs/
plural of “berth” — a job in an organization
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
butcheringnounUS /ˈbʊtʃərɪŋ/
the business of a butcher
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Sometimes they get things to do ashore.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
grumbleverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəl/
show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
grumblesnounUS /ˈɡrʌmbəlz/
plural of “grumble” — a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
grumblingnounUS /ˈɡrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
an occurrence of something
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
night-watchman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
night-watchman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
s'pose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
sailorman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
shore-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes they get things to do ashore.
stickingadjectiveUS /ˈstɪkɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Sometimes they get things to do ashore.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading Every sailorman grumbles about the sea, said the night-watchman, thoughtfully.
up to a particular time
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It's human nature to grumble, and I s'pose they keep on grumbling and sticking to it because there ain't much else they can do.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
precisely as stated
From this reading I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading There's not many shore-going berths that a sailorman is fit for, and those that they are--such as a night-watchman's, for instance--wants such a good character that there's few as are to equal it.
(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 I knew one man that took up butchering, and 'e did very well at it till the police took him up.
