used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Where is the beginning of a story?
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
dictumnounUS /ˈdɪktəm/
an authoritative declaration
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
Knave's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
immediately past
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
narrationnounUS /neˈreɪʃən/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
not any; not one
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
novelistnounUS /ˈnɑːvələst/
one who writes novels
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
RabbitnounUS /ˈræbət/
any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Where is the beginning of a story?
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading For the novelist no dictum more entirely complete and satisfactory can be imagined—in theory.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
up to a particular time
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
the act of testing something
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But in practice it is hard to live up to.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
at the time that
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
in or at the place that
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
a Caucasian
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This would seem to be the last word on the subject of narration in general.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When the White Rabbit in _Alice_ asked where he should begin to read the verses at the Knave’s trial the King replied: “Begin at the beginning; go on till you come to the end; then stop.”
