used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
a youthful male person
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading You’ll find it a vastly different job getting up.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
move gently or carefully
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading You’ll find it a vastly different job getting up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading You’ll find it a vastly different job getting up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading You’ll find it a vastly different job getting up.
a boy or man
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
lamplighternounUS /ˈlæmplaɪtər/
(when gas was used for streetlights) a person who lights and extinguishes streetlights
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
limberadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmbər/
(used of e.g. personality traits) readily adaptable
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
engage in
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
paternounUS /ˈpeɪtər/
an informal use of the Latin word for father; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
in the near future
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading After another ascent and descent you’ll think nothing of it."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
male cat
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading You’ll find it a vastly different job getting up.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
vastlyadverbUS /ˈvæstli/
to an exceedingly great extent or degree
From this reading You’ll find it a vastly different job getting up.
precisely as stated
From this reading "It’s very easy for a light, limber lad like you to get down that ladder.
which person or people
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Don’t you make any mistake, my boy," retorted his father.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Never mind, pater," said Tom, who had slipped down the ladder with the ease of a lamplighter, "you’ll soon get used to it.
