used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
alumnounUS /ˈæləm/
a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
bamboonounUS /bæmˈbuː/
the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
Chu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
clawsnounUS /klɔːz/
plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
compoundingnounUS /kəmˈpaʊndɪŋ/
the act of combining things to form a new whole
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
formulanounUS /ˈfɔːrmjələ/
a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
set up or found
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
ingredientsnounUS /ˌɪnˈɡriːdiənts/
plural of “ingredient” — a component of a mixture or compound
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
immediately past
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
medicinesnounUS /ˈmedəsənz/
plural of “medicine” — the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
mixturenounUS /ˈmɪkstʃər/
(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
pepperverbUS /ˈpepər/
add pepper to
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
PingverbUS /pɪŋ/
hit with a pinging noise
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
proportionsnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
specifiedadjectiveUS /ˈspesəfaɪd/
clearly and explicitly stated
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
toadnounUS /toʊd/
any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
From this reading “Red pepper, and alum, and toad claws,” so he read.
tubenounUS /tuːb/
conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading The mixture was poured into a bamboo tube and the tube was placed in a fire.
precisely as stated
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Beginning at the very beginning—which, of course, was on the last page, good Dr. Chu studied the first formula.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The three ingredients were found and mixed in the specified proportions.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The next day Dr. Chu Ping opened his book of instructions for the compounding of medicines—a book which he himself had written.
