used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
anew
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
(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 They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
back'snounUS /bæks/
possessive form of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
give a benediction to
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
a boy or man
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
dishnounUS /dɪʃ/
a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I can't hear what they say.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
not any; not one
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
not divisible by two
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
PatverbUS /pæt/
pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
express in words
From this reading I can't hear what they say.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
shutsverbUS /ʃʌts/
third-person singular of “shut” — move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
in the near future
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading _AN ODD PAIR_ "It be queer to see them together.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I can't hear what they say.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They be as thick as thieves," said Nat to his wife with a broad smile, as he sat down to table for the dish of tea he always looked for before he went up to see that all was in order with the lamp before the dusk fell.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "As for me, I can't get a word out of him no how; but the little chap, he makes him talk as I never knew he could.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Bless you! if I so much as look that way, Jim shuts up his mouth like as if no power on earth would open it, and Pat he goes as red as a rose, as if he was half ashamed to be caught chattering; but so soon as my back's turned they're at it again.
