used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
in the past
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
at or in the front
From this reading You can’t get ahead of Mother.
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
for the reason that
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can’t get ahead of Mother.
cardroomnoun
a room for gambling on card games
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
centsnounUS /sents/
plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
take in solid food
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading You can’t get ahead of Mother.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
death of a person
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
only a very short time before
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
ten 10s
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
the force of workers available
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
Mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
not any; not one
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
PoinsettianounUS /ˌpɔɪnˈsetiːə/
tropical American plant having poisonous milk and showy tapering usually scarlet petallike leaves surrounding small yellow flowers
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
poorhousenounUS /ˈpuːrhaʊs/
an establishment maintained at public expense in order to provide housing for the poor and homeless
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
seventy-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈsevəntifaɪv/
being five more than seventy
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
sirloinnoun
the portion of the loin (especially of beef) just in front of the rump
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
steaknounUS /steɪk/
a slice of meat cut from the fleshy part of an animal or large fish
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
a special situation
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “No,” says Mother, “because if every day was my birthday, I would be old enough by this time to of been in my grave long ago.”
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
(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 I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
in or at the place that
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the third day of February, which is Mother’s birthday, we spread ourselves and eat supper at the Poinsettia Hotel and they charged us seventy-five cents for a sirloin steak that wasn’t hardly big enough for one.
whistnoun
a card game for four players who form two partnerships; a pack of 52 cards is dealt and each side scores one point for each trick it takes in excess of six
From this reading In the hotel they had a cardroom where they was several men and ladies playing five hundred and this new tangled whist bridge.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You can’t get ahead of Mother.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I said to Mother: “Well,” I said, “I guess it’s a good thing every day ain’t your birthday or we would be in the poorhouse.”
