used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
assnounUS /æs/
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The tinker went behind and sang, the donkey went before and was thwacked.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The tinker went behind and sang, the donkey went before and was thwacked.
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
donkeynounUS /ˈdɑːŋki/
the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
drolladjectiveUS /droʊl/
comical in an odd or whimsical manner
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
a boy or man
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
flourishedverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past form of “flourish” — grow vigorously
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
in a gradual manner
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
jovialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊviəl/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
mercifuladjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrsɪfəl/
showing or giving mercy
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
a form of address for a man
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
housing available for people to live in
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
quoth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
refrainverbUS /rɪˈfreɪn/
resist doing something
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
Riccabocca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading The tinker went behind and sang, the donkey went before and was thwacked.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
spoilsnounUS /spɔɪlz/
plural of “spoil” — (usually plural) valuables taken by violence (especially in war)
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
Sprott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
stavenounUS /steɪv/
(music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
stilenounUS /staɪl/
an upright that is a member in a door or window frame
From this reading The parson jumped from the stile, and looking over the hedge that divided the field from the road--"Gently, gently," said he; "the sound of the stick spoils the singing!
dependable
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
swarthyadjectiveUS /ˈswɔːrði/
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
thwacked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tinker went behind and sang, the donkey went before and was thwacked.
tinkerverbUS /ˈtɪŋkər/
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Oh, Mr. Sprott, Mr. Sprott! a good man is merciful to his beast."
walksnounUS /wɔːks/
plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The tinker went behind and sang, the donkey went before and was thwacked.
withaladverb
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading The tinker was a stout, swarthy fellow, jovial and musical withal, for he was singing a stave as he flourished his staff, and at the end of each refrain down came the staff on the quarters of the donkey.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading "Yours is a droll country," quoth Dr. Riccabocca; "in mine, it is not the ass that walks first in the procession that gets the blows."
