used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And yet marrying is about the first thing they think of.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
a youthful male person
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
dollarnounUS /ˈdɑːlər/
the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And yet marrying is about the first thing they think of.
your parents
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
usually; as a rule
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
a young female
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
laughableadjectiveUS /ˈlæfəbəl/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
joined in matrimony
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
marryingverbUS /ˈmeriɪŋ/
-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage
From this reading And yet marrying is about the first thing they think of.
the force of workers available
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
Nine-tenths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
not any; not one
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
nuisancenounUS /ˈnuːsəns/
(law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
many times at short intervals
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
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 These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
preachverbUS /priːtʃ/
deliver a sermon
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
prospectiveadjectiveUS /prəˈspektɪv/
of or concerned with or related to the future
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
qualifiedadjectiveUS /ˈkwɑːləfaɪd/
meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office or position or task
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
regularlyadverbUS /ˈreɡjələrli/
in a regular manner
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
precisely, exactly
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
sparkers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
sparkingverbUS /ˈspɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “spark” — put in motion or move to act
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They haven't generally got a second shirt, and they are no more qualified to get married than a steer is to preach.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
a special situation
From this reading And yet marrying is about the first thing they think of.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And yet marrying is about the first thing they think of.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading These sparkers are looked upon by parents generally as a nuisance, and often they are right.
which person or people
From this reading Nine-tenths of the sparking is done by boys who haven't got their growth, and they look so green that it is laughable for old folks to look at them.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A green boy, without a dollar, present or prospective, sparking a girl regularly and talking of marrying is a spectacle for gods and men.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet marrying is about the first thing they think of.
