used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
in actual fact
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
any thing at all
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
a boy or man
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
declareverbUS /dɪˈkler/
state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading “I declare!” he said.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
eccentricitiesnounUS /ˌeksenˈtrɪsɪtiz/
plural of “eccentricity” — strange and unconventional behavior
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
a quad with a square body
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
at any time
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
apart from; not including
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I declare!” he said.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
engage in
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
not any; not one
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
a human being
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
professingnounUS /prəˈfesɪŋ/
an open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
prohibitionnounUS /ˌproʊəˈbɪʃən/
a law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
plural of “right” — an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I declare!” he said.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
in a serious manner
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
socialismnounUS /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/
a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
speechifyingverbUS /ˈspiːtʃəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “speechify” — make speeches; hold forth, or harangue with a certain degree of formality
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
SundaysnounUS /ˈsʌndeɪz/
plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
the act of using
From this reading “No sensible person could make head or tail of it, if I may use such an expression.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
at the time that
From this reading And when her lessons, as mild as she could make them, had proceeded somewhat further, he passed his hand over his brow, professing himself more confused than ever.
women's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never dreamed anything could actually come of all these eccentricities—women’s rights, socialism, blue Sundays, prohibition and what not.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I’ve heard of such people—heard jokes about ’em—but never in my life _met_ a person that went in seriously for any of ’em, except that speechifying chap I told you about.
