used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
brighteningverbUS /ˈbraɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
centred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
chivalrousadjective
being attentive to women like an ideal knight
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
defendernounUS /dɪˈfendər/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
HerringnounUS /ˈherɪŋ/
valuable flesh of fatty fish from shallow waters of northern Atlantic or Pacific; usually salted or pickled
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/
address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
maidensnounUS /ˈmeɪdənz/
plural of “maiden” — an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
of an obscure nature
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
not any; not one
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Herring smiled.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading ’She is so helpless, so solitary,’ explained Herring.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
in or at that place or location
From this reading ’There is no mystery about me; I am plain John Herring, nothing more.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
unprotectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈtektɪd/
lacking protection or defense
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It shows how utterly selfish we have been, how centred in our own troubles, that no one has cared to inquire whether you too have troubles, and whether you are alone in the world.’
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ’By the way, chivalrous defender of unprotected maidens,’ said Cicely, brightening up, ’you come to us like the mysterious knight in a romance, we know not whence, nor whither you go.
