used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
actsnounUS /ækts/
a New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at Rome
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
congratulateverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
enigmaticaladjective
not clear to the understanding
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
LeonounUS /ˈliːoʊ/
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Leo
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
and nothing more
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
rôle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a new rôle for him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
express in words
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
sheep-dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
shruggingverbUS /ˈʃrʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
not in physical motion
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
express in words
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
in or at that place or location
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ‘We are not to be left quite alone,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders; ‘Leo acts sheep-dog.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
which person or people
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I might say that was enigmatical still: but I will receive it as I am sure it is meant, and I congratulate you upon a very pretty turn of speech.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading ‘There can be only one of us who is in any danger,’ said the young man.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading But whether it is in my interest or yours, Lord Will, I cannot tell.’
