used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
amateurnounUS /ˈæmətɜːr/
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
bafflingadjectiveUS /ˈbæfəlɪŋ/
making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
for the reason that
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
an occurrence of something
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Your would-be jest has discovered the proverbial truth.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading "Exactly, Max.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading Your would-be jest has discovered the proverbial truth.
and nothing more
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
MaxnounUS /mæks/
street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading "Exactly, Max.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
not any; not one
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
and nothing more
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
optionnounUS /ˈɑːpʃən/
the right to buy or sell property at an agreed price; the right is purchased and if it is not exercised by a stated date the money is forfeited
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
proverbialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɜːrbiəl/
of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb
From this reading Your would-be jest has discovered the proverbial truth.
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Your would-be jest has discovered the proverbial truth.
unsatisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsətɪˈsfæktəri/
not giving satisfaction
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
precisely as stated
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The consequence is that you get a very unsatisfactory affair that has no special interest to an amateur and is only baffling because it is--well----" "Well, baffling?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "If you hadn't held me to a hasty promise----" "To give me an option on the next case that baffled you, no matter what it was----" "Just so.
would-beadjective
unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
From this reading Your would-be jest has discovered the proverbial truth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Your would-be jest has discovered the proverbial truth.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "You have only yourself to thank that it is a very poor one," he retorted.
