used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
(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 "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
bridaladjectiveUS /ˈbraɪdəl/
of or relating to a wedding
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
clothing in general
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
a female human offspring
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
everlastingadjectiveUS /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
goodynounUS /ˈɡʊdi/
something considered choice to eat
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
and nothing more
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
a boy or man
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
not any; not one
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
RoundaboutadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəbaʊt/
marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
express in words
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
a particular situation
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
smartened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
carry out
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/
marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
up to a particular time
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
two times
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As for the weather and the ways they were just as they had been twice before.
at the time that
From this reading So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as she could, and he himself brought out his new shoes and rubbed them till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done that off he went.
wiggle-waggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
wooverbUS /wuː/
seek someone's favor
From this reading "But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her daughter.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word against it, for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked so well she thought it quite out of the question that any one could say, 'No!' to so smart a lad.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip.
