used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
Ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "But come now," said Tom drily.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
drilyadverb
in a dry laconic manner
From this reading "No, my lad, more likely to swallow you," said the sailor drily.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
fishesnounUS /ˈfɪʃəz/
plural of “fish” — any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
a boy or man
From this reading "No, my lad, more likely to swallow you," said the sailor drily.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
menfolks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "No, my lad, more likely to swallow you," said the sailor drily.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
not any; not one
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "But come now," said Tom drily.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Were they though?" said Tom.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading "No, my lad, more likely to swallow you," said the sailor drily.
express in words
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
sea-serpent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading "Well, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Were they though?" said Tom.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Were they though?" said Tom.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
three-acre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
male cat
From this reading "Were they though?" said Tom.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
(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, it do seem likely," said Tom; "but I never could swallow the sea-serpent."
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Were they though?" said Tom.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Ay, they were, my lads; and what I wanted to say was this--If so be as those fish could live in that bit of a three-acre pool without people knowing of their being there, don't you think there can be no end of big fishes and things in the great waters, thousands of miles from shore, such as menfolks has never seen?"
