used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
dearly loved
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
without deviation
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
distastefuladjectiveUS /dɪˈsteɪstfəl/
not pleasing in odor or taste
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading "Yes, Harry, very much."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
Madelaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madelaine sighed.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Yes, Harry, very much."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Madelaine sighed.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
make steady
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
express a supposition
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Yes, Harry, very much."
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
(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, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading I've wanted something to steady me--something to work for; and if I've got you for a wife I shall be a different man directly."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "Well, I'm very sorry, dear; and I suppose I have been a bit to blame, but I've been doing distasteful work, and I've been like a boat swinging about without an anchor.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, Harry, very much."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I want you to be my anchor to hold me fast.
