used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
not being in a specified place
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
from one side of something to the other
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
ailsnounUS /eɪlz/
plural of “ail” — aromatic bulb used as seasoning
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
AltheanounUS /ælˈθiːə/
any of various plants of the genus Althaea; similar to but having smaller flowers than genus Alcea
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
betideverbUS /bɪˈtaɪd/
become of; happen to
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
caressedverbUS /kərˈest/
past form of “caress” — touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
in a serious manner
From this reading "And what are you graving so earnestly upon the plate?
accept an excuse for
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
opinion or judgment
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
graving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what are you graving so earnestly upon the plate?
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
honouredverbUS /ˈɑːnərd/
past form of “honour” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
a human being
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading "And what are you graving so earnestly upon the plate?
pleadverbUS /pliːd/
appeal or request earnestly
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
rivalverbUS /ˈraɪvəl/
be equal to in quality or ability
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
sitsverbUS /sɪts/
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "And what are you graving so earnestly upon the plate?
sportivelyadverb
in a merry sportive manner
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
Tausdorf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile kissed the hand that caressed him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
a source of difficulty
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "And what are you graving so earnestly upon the plate?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
a Caucasian
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading I must see it, and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed her white hand across his eyes.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little about her."
