used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
react verbally
From this reading "You may, sir; and I may answer or not, I suppose.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "May I ask in what capacity?" said I.
beer-saloons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading "May I ask in what capacity?" said I.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
employé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
good-for-nothingnoun
an idle worthless person
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
ill-concealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "May I ask in what capacity?" said I.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "You may, sir; and I may answer or not, I suppose.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "You may, sir; and I may answer or not, I suppose.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "May I ask in what capacity?" said I.
seedyadjectiveUS /ˈsiːdi/
full of seeds
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
term of address for a man
From this reading "You may, sir; and I may answer or not, I suppose.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
express a supposition
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "People are always ready to think ill of a seedy man, I suppose.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "May I ask in what capacity?" said I.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He spoke with a bitter irony, that ill-concealed a sort of shame in the confession.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Probably you think me a good-for-nothing, and would give me some valuable advice about hanging around beer-saloons; but the fact is, I am an employé of this establishment."
