used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
the lower side of anything
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
costermongernoun
a hawker of fruit and vegetables from a barrow
From this reading He tapped the costermonger on the shoulder.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
enigmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
Fandor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Take my word for it!"
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tapped the costermonger on the shoulder.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Take my word for it!"
lamentingadjectiveUS /ləˈmentɪŋ/
vocally expressing grief or sorrow or resembling such expression
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
immediately past
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Take my word for it!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He tapped the costermonger on the shoulder.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading He tapped the costermonger on the shoulder.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
the state of being asleep
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
in the near future
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
carry out
From this reading Take my word for it!"
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading He tapped the costermonger on the shoulder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
a special situation
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The last thing Fandor wished to do was to start a conversation with his lamenting companion.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without puzzling his brains any further over the enigmas he wished to get to the bottom of, Fandor stretched himself on his plank bed, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Take my word for it!"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Good Heavens, man, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep!
