used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
(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 Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
have
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
without doubt or question
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
being joined in close association
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
Dabney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
give a description of
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
one or the other of two
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
divisible by two
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
and nothing more
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
milk-bucket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
milk-pail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
MillsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
not any; not one
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
Olaf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
by chance
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
free from harm or evil
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
cut with a saw
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
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 Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not even he, however, was able to deny that it was the milk-pail that saved the day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
versionnounUS /ˈvɜːrʒən/
an interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpoint
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
precisely as stated
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
whanged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I saw the bear striking at them when I came near, so I just whanged her over the head with the milk-bucket, and she beat it.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
at the time that
From this reading Nancy could never describe it clearly at all, and Olaf, when questioned, gave a very simple version of the rescue.
which person or people
From this reading Dabney Mills, who had no knowledge at the time of what was happening, was able, perhaps, to give the most picturesque story of the three.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A DECISION It was not easy for either Nancy or Olaf to give any connected account afterward of their adventure with the bear.
