used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
affinitynounUS /əˈfɪnəti/
(immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
From this reading He had found his conversational affinity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
ARRESTverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading IN CLOSE ARREST.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
charmsnounUS /tʃɑːrmz/
plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
chatverbUS /tʃæt/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading IN CLOSE ARREST.
conversationaladjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənəl/
characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
From this reading He had found his conversational affinity.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
devotingverbUS /dɪˈvoʊtɪŋ/
-ing form of “devote” — give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
set up or found
From this reading He had found his conversational affinity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had found his conversational affinity.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN CLOSE ARREST.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
a form of address for a man
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
and nothing more
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
peekingverbUS /ˈpiːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “peek” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
Pyramus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
scratchingnounUS /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/
a harsh noise made by scraping
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
happening unexpectedly
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
sworeverbUS /swɔːr/
inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
Thisbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
the act of using
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
vestedadjectiveUS /ˈvestɪd/
fixed and absolute and without contingency
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
WhalingverbUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “whale” — hunt for whales
From this reading But Pyramus Blake had found his mate, he swore, and with huge delight he began devoting hours to chat with Mrs. Whaling.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To use his own language, life had suddenly become vested with new charms for Mr. Blake.
a late time of life
From this reading "For years," said he, "I have been like Pyramus, peeking and scratching at a wall for Thisbe,--only my Thisbe was never there."
