used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
anew
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
how long something has existed
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
(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 “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
back-somersault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
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 “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/
make or cause to be or to become
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
incessantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsesəntli/
with unflagging resolve
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
injureverbUS /ˈɪndʒər/
cause injuries or bodily harm to
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
locksnounUS /lɑːks/
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
used to form the superlative
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
not any; not one
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
not one, and not any
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
ointmentnounUS /ˈɔɪntmənt/
semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
precisely, exactly
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
sagenounUS /seɪdʒ/
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
shillingnounUS /ˈʃɪlɪŋ/
the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
a male human offspring
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
be standing; be upright
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
stingverbUS /stɪŋ/
cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
suppleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌpəl/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
uncommonlyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːmənli/
exceptionally
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
the act of using
From this reading “In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, “I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple.”
precisely as stated
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?”
a Caucasian
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading It takes a real genius to create wit that carries no sting.
but in spite of that
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading “In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
