used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
acidadjectiveUS /ˈæsəd/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
(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 A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
beastlyadjectiveUS /ˈbiːstliː/
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
biliousadjectiveUS /ˈbɪliəs/
relating to or containing bile
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
blunderverbUS /ˈblʌndər/
commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
boyhood's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
cashnounUS /kæʃ/
money in the form of bills or coins
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
comp'nies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
debenturesnounUS /dəˈbentʃərz/
plural of “debenture” — the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
at any time
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
set up or found
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
healthyadjectiveUS /ˈhelθi/
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
martinetnoun
someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
martyrnounUS /ˈmɑːrtər/
one who suffers for the sake of principle
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
immediately following in time or order
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
partnersnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərz/
plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
primeadjectiveUS /praɪm/
first in rank or degree
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
sirsnounUS /sɜːrrz/
plural of “sir” — term of address for a man
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
smashverbUS /smæʃ/
hit hard
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
speculatedverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪd/
past form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
sweetsnounUS /swiːts/
plural of “sweet” — English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
tartarnounUS /ˈtɑːrtər/
a salt used especially in baking powder
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
venturesnounUS /ˈventʃərz/
plural of “venture” — any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading I speculated all my cash In her relations’ ventures; Of course the comp’nies went to smash―― And I’d to pay debentures!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus From boyhood’s early prime, sirs, It’s been my fate to be too late―― I never was in time, sirs!
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading ’Twas ever thus, ’twas ever thus; I thought her parents wealthy; I’ve found them poor――they live next door, And are _so_ beastly healthy.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I never went to dance or ball, But there I made a blunder; My partners always had a fall, And I was always under.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading A martinet I’ve got to wife Oh, quite an acid tartar: _She_ has all the sweets of life, While _I’m_ a bilious martyr.
