used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
AshtonnounUS /ˈæʃtən/
British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
classificationsnounUS /ˌklæsəfəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “classification” — the act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
give a description of
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
a feeling of favorable regard
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
having or given a form or shape
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How so, mamma?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
LatinadjectiveUS /ˈlætən/
of or relating to the ancient Latins or the Latin language
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
informal terms for a mother
From this reading “How so, mamma?
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
purple-ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
sea-weed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
snail-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “How so, mamma?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
systemsnounUS /ˈsɪstəmz/
plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
the act of using
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
at the time that
From this reading When you spoke to us the other day of the little purple-ocean snail-shell, I formed a much better idea of it than if you had called it by some Latin name, which I could not understand.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “I wonder,” said Lewis, as the basket of shells and sea-weed was placed on the table, “what can be the use of the hard names people always give to their shells.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I think it would be much better to call them by some name which should describe the shell, and which every body could understand.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “And in saying this, Lewis,” said Mrs. Ashton, “you have furnished an argument in favour of systems and classifications.”
