used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
an occurrence of something
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
chasteadjectiveUS /tʃeɪst/
morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse)
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
a person who is in charge
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
Commissioner'snounUS /kəˈmɪʃənərz/
possessive form of “commissioner” — a government administrator
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
ConcernsnounUS /kənˈsɜːrnz/
plural of “concern” — something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
ElephantnounUS /ˈeləfənt/
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
featheryadjectiveUS /ˈfeðəri/
resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the time for talk.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
Hurda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
mahoutnoun
the driver and keeper of an elephant
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
and nothing more
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
express in speech
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
stockadesnounUS /ˈstɑːkeɪdz/
plural of “stockade” — fortification consisting of a fence made of a line of stout posts set firmly for defense
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It was the time for talk.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
tamarisknounUS /ˈtæmərɪsk/
any shrub or small tree of the genus Tamarix having small scalelike or needle-shaped leaves and feathery racemes of small white or pinkish flowers; of mostly coastal areas with saline soil
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was the time for talk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
precisely as stated
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
water-pipes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat in comfort under the feathery branches of tall tamarisk trees, smoking their water-pipes, after the sunset meal.
which person or people
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading "A good beginning," said a very old man near by, "it being wise, in case of doubt, to stop the mouth of--who might speak afterward."
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading _Elephant Concerns_ "Only the altogether ignorant do not know that the women of my line have been chaste."
youngestadjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡəst/
superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was the youngest mahout of the Chief Commissioner's elephant stockades of Hurda, who spoke.
