used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
assistantnounUS /əˈsɪstənt/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
for the reason that
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
one or the other of two
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "And a very good way it is, too," said Squeers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And a very good way it is, too," said Squeers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
and nothing more
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
Nickleby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
cut with a saw
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
express in words
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
shruggedverbUS /ʃrʌɡd/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
Squeers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And a very good way it is, too," said Squeers.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
carry out
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mr. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occurred to him, either that he must not say too much to his assistant, or that his assistant did not say enough to him in praise of the establishment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "And a very good way it is, too," said Squeers.
being of use or service
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
precisely as stated
From this reading "And a very good way it is, too," said Squeers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nicholas shrugged his shoulders, and said he saw it was.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "That's the way we do it, Nickleby," he said, after a pause.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now just take them fourteen little boys and hear them some reading, because, you know, you must begin to be useful."
