used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I MAKE A NARROW ESCAPE.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
in the past
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
(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 There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
bashfuladjectiveUS /ˈbæʃfəl/
self-consciously timid
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading I MAKE A NARROW ESCAPE.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I MAKE A NARROW ESCAPE.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
engage in
From this reading I MAKE A NARROW ESCAPE.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading I MAKE A NARROW ESCAPE.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
rubsnounUS /rʌbz/
plural of “rub” — an unforeseen obstacle
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
a special situation
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There's nothing at all funny about it, though some people seem to think there is.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a serious thing to be as bashful as I am.
triple-plated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
wash-board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
be dressed in
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
a late time of life
From this reading I was assured, years ago, that it would wear off and betray the brass underneath; but I must have been triple-plated.
but in spite of that
From this reading I have had rubs enough to wear out a wash-board, yet there doesn't a bit of brass come to the surface yet.
