Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

anew

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

Having no one else present.

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Don't be 'arsh, Joe, don't be 'arsh!

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

for the reason that

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

at or toward the back of something

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

a quad with a square body

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

disabled in the feet or legs

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

moving to the inside of something

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

press tightly together or cram

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

a sailing vessel with two masts; the mizzen is forward of the rudderpost

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

plural of “lump” — a compact mass

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

battles in World War II in the Pacific (November 1943); United States Marines took the islands from the Japanese after bitter fighting

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

not any; not one

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)

From this reading Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."

of momentous or ominous significance

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

marked by skill in deception

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

in or at that place or location

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

precisely as stated

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

a witty amusing person who makes jokes

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

(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 "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

morally bad in principle or practice

From this reading "An' mind this again--if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."

in the company of; together with

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?--very well, then!"

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA "Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now--if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it--no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it--"