used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And "Is this a merry jape?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And "Is this a merry jape?"
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
cat'snounUS /kæts/
possessive form of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
champagnenounUS /ʃæmˈpeɪn/
a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
a social unit living together
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
a boy or man
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
in a free manner
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
interruptingverbUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪŋ/
-ing form of “interrupt” — make a break in
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And "Is this a merry jape?"
japenoun
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading And "Is this a merry jape?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading And "Is this a merry jape?"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
politenessnounUS /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
sippedverbUS /sɪpt/
inflected form of “sip” — drink in sips
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
squirmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
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 And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
express in words
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And "Is this a merry jape?"
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the family sipped champagne and regarded him.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And the tale was told by the family, in chorus, without politeness, interrupting freely.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now, if I've squirmed for you enough, I wish you'd explain--father, tell me!" the boy begged.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And "Why, for cat's sake, can't you tell a fellow what's up your sleeve?"
