used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
bitternessnounUS /ˈbɪtərnəs/
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
canstmodal verbUS /kænst/
an old form of “can”, used with “thou”
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
contemptibleadjectiveUS /kənˈtemptəbəl/
deserving of contempt or scorn
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
curnounUS /kɜːr/
an inferior dog or one of mixed breed
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
take in solid food
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
enviousadjectiveUS /ˈenviəs/
showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
hatefuladjectiveUS /ˈheɪtfəl/
evoking or deserving hatred
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
ill-naturedadjective
having an irritable and unpleasant disposition
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
engage in
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
mangernounUS /ˈmeɪndʒər/
a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
MORALadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading MORAL.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
not any; not one
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
OxnounUS /ɑːks/
an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
SelfishnessnounUS /ˈselfɪʃnəs/
stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
snarlingverbUS /ˈsnɑːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “snarl” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
undergo or be subjected to
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
a special situation
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
thyself
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
the act of using
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
withholdsverbUS /ˈwɪθhoʊldz/
third-person singular of “withhold” — hold back; refuse to hand over or share
From this reading Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading An Ox, being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it.
wretchnounUS /retʃ/
performs some wicked deed
From this reading Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."
