used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
any thing at all
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
chickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
cruiseverbUS /kruːz/
drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
drinksnounUS /drɪŋks/
plural of “drink” — a single serving of a beverage
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I said: “It's a good proverb.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I said: “It's a good proverb.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is a West-Indian proverb.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said: “It's a good proverb.”
liftsnounUS /lɪfts/
plural of “lift” — the act of giving temporary assistance
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
mechanicaladjectiveUS /məˈkænɪkəl/
using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
by chance
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
proverbnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading That is a West-Indian proverb.”
ritualnounUS /ˈrɪtʃuːəl/
any customary observance or practice
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
express in words
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
to a small degree or extent
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
express in speech
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is a West-Indian proverb.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
Ulswater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were nearing the end of our cruise.
West-Indian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is a West-Indian proverb.”
at the time that
From this reading |WHEN a chicken drinks,” said Dr. Ulswater, “he lifts his head and thanks God, but when a man drinks he doesn't say anything.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Well,” he went on, “I should say it was, with the chicken, possibly, so to speak, a somewhat mechanical ritual.”
