used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
a-meddlin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
catched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why should he do that?
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
glowerverbUS /ˈɡlaʊər/
look at with a fixed gaze
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why should he do that?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
Jake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
Maister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
MeddlingnounUS /ˈmedəlɪŋ/
the act of altering something secretly or improperly
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
Penwarden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
rascalnounUS /ˈræskəl/
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
reptilenounUS /ˈreptaɪl/
any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
express in words
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Why should he do that?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Why should he do that?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why should he do that?
winoun
a midwestern state in north central United States
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "I catched this young reptile a-meddlin’ wi’ Maister Dick’s lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
