used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “A PHANTOM OF LIGHT.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
any thing at all
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
a youthful male person
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
without stop or interruption
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
encompassedverbUS /enˈkʌmpəst/
past form of “encompass” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
apart from; not including
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
a small worthless amount
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
jokingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊkɪŋ/
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading “A PHANTOM OF LIGHT.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
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 For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
mournfullyadverb
in a mournful manner
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “A PHANTOM OF LIGHT.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
PHANTOMnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading “A PHANTOM OF LIGHT.”
in a serious manner
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
male cat
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
the upper part of anything
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But jokes in a situation like the one that encompassed the two boys are but sorry things, and at length Jack gave over.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For a long time Jack tried to keep Tom’s spirits up by joking and laughing.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Is there anything we can do?” asked Tom mournfully.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “We might cut holes in the fog and climb to the top,” laughed Jack, and then more seriously he continued: “I don’t know what there is to do, Tom, old boy, except to wait.
