touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Both directions were blocked up against me.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading How were these measurements to be obtained?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading Both directions were blocked up against me.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both directions were blocked up against me.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
circumferencenounUS /ˌsɜːrˈkʌmfrəns/
the size of something as given by the distance around it
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Both directions were blocked up against me.
one or the other of two
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How were these measurements to be obtained?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
measurementsnounUS /ˈmeʒərmənts/
plural of “measurement” — the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading How were these measurements to be obtained?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
in the near future
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
express in words
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
thereinadverbUS /ðeˈrɪn/
(formal) in or into that thing or place
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading How were these measurements to be obtained?
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How were these measurements to be obtained?
the upper part of anything
From this reading I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Both directions were blocked up against me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of either end?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading How were these measurements to be obtained?
