used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
for the reason that
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
botchnounUS /bɑːtʃ/
an embarrassing mistake
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
Caeltia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
Cann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
clothing in general
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
Connaught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
a boy or man
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
MacnounUS /mæk/
a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
misternounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
modestlyadverbUS /ˈmɑːdəstli/
with modesty; in a modest manner
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
musiciannounUS /mjuːˈzɪʃən/
someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
plural of “story” — 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 Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
story-teller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
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 "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I'm a musician myself, as I told you, and there's my instrument, but I knew an old man in Connaught one time, and he was a great lad for the stories.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That wasn't a bad tale," he continued to Caeltia.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "And then," said Mac Cann thoughtfully, "we came along, and they stole our clothes."
(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 Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Billy replied modestly: "It's because the stories were good ones that they were well told, for that's not my trade, and what wonder would it be if I made a botch of it?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are as good a story-teller, mister, as the man himself," pointing to Billy the Music.
