used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "No, you don't--and don't you think it."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
aunounUS /oʊ/
a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, you don't--and don't you think it."
eavesdroppernoun
a secret listener to private conversations
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "No, you don't--and don't you think it."
and nothing more
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
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 A KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
a particular point in time
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
narratedverbUS /ˈnereɪtɪd/
past form of “narrate” — provide commentary for a film, for example
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
naturel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, you don't--and don't you think it."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
PurcellnounUS /pərˈsel/
English organist at Westminster Abbey and composer of many theatrical pieces (1659-1695)
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
RESCUEverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading A KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "No, you don't--and don't you think it."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
Val
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Val, as we know, was not quite like other people.
waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading Somebody, and that a formidable personage, had been a witness of the scene just narrated.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We would not for a moment call poor Val Purcell an eavesdropper _au naturel_, but he certainly had a talent for picking up by the wayside things which did not exactly belong to him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "No, you don't--and don't you think it."
