used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
(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 A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
eagerly desirous
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
Clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
travel across or pass over
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
crosslyadverb
in an ill-natured manner
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
an opposing military force
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
at any time
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
immediately past
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
engage in
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
muddledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdəld/
confused and vague; used especially of thinking
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
muddler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
muddlesnounUS /ˈmʌdəlz/
plural of “muddle” — a confused multitude of things
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
shan't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
having a supporting base
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
thundercloudnoun
a dark cloud of great vertical extent charged with electricity; associated with thunderstorms
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
Tibbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
under normal conditions
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
precisely as stated
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Monday morning, and the Clerk of the Weather was never at his best on Monday.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn’t a very nice greeting, especially as the three anxious children had been standing and knocking upon the thundercloud door of the Clerk’s house for the last half hour.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “He’s cross as two sticks!” whispered Tibbs; “we shan’t get much help from him.”
which person or people
From this reading A muddler at all times, on Monday he was usually the most muddled muddler who ever muddled muddles!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THEY MAKE AN ENEMY “What do you want here?” cried the Clerk of the Weather, crossly.
