used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
having companions or an escort
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
attirenounUS /əˈtaɪər/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
believesverbUS /bɪˈliːvz/
third-person singular of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
a youthful male person
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
Charlie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
Chinamannoun
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
clothing in general
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
Drummond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
divisible by two
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
a social unit living together
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
fear-noughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
ill-fittingadjective
not the right size or shape
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
jerseynounUS /ˈdʒɜːrzi/
a Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
nauticaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːtəkəl/
relating to or involving ships or shipping or navigation or seamen
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
not any; not one
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
oilies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
a human being
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
PingverbUS /pɪŋ/
hit with a pinging noise
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
rascalnounUS /ˈræskəl/
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
SkippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
swindlingverbUS /ˈswɪndlɪŋ/
-ing form of “swindle” — deprive of by deceit
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
Wang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
(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 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
at the time that
From this reading When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused great surprise to his family.
which person or people
From this reading 'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find that he has made a mistake.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading 'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no difficulty in swindling you.'
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If he had returned dressed in 'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present attire.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been introduced, 'have you had a good time?'
