used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was the signal for the shops to be closed.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It was the signal for the shops to be closed.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the signal for the shops to be closed.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is the tale.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the signal for the shops to be closed.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
for more time
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
mastersnounUS /ˈmæstərz/
United States poet (1869-1950)
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
MayornounUS /ˈmeɪər/
the head of a city government
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
prentices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
rhymenounUS /raɪm/
correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/
plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading It was the signal for the shops to be closed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
having a supporting base
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading This is the tale.
plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is the tale.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the signal for the shops to be closed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At one time an order was given by the Lord Mayor that Bow Bell should ring every night at nine o’clock.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But according to the ’prentices the bell always rang late, and so kept them at work longer than there was any occasion.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “There’s another old rhyme about Bow Bells, which tells a pretty story about these young ’prentices you see all round you, standing at the doors of their masters’ shops and shouting, ‘Buy! buy! buy!’
