used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
advisedadjectiveUS /ædˈvaɪzd/
having the benefit of careful prior consideration or counsel
From this reading I merely held things and advised.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
(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 said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I merely held things and advised.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
Britannica
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
BunnynounUS /ˈbʌni/
a young waitress in a nightclub whose costume includes the tail and ears of a rabbit
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
cotton-wool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
Encyclopædia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading I merely held things and advised.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I merely held things and advised.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/
understood perfectly
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
Mathers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
and nothing more
From this reading I merely held things and advised.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
on one occasion
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
sewedadjectiveUS /soʊd/
fastened with stitches
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
spiffingadjectiveUS /ˈspɪfɪŋ/
excellent or splendid
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
stuffer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
stuffingnounUS /ˈstʌfɪŋ/
a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I said— "For a first attempt it is spiffing; but all the same, ’Joe’ never looked like that in life or death.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
a special situation
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I merely held things and advised.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is evidently the great difficulty in the stuffer’s art, and Mathers had not mastered it by any means from the _Encyclopædia Britannica_.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
toughnessnounUS /ˈtʌfnəs/
enduring strength and energy
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
at the time that
From this reading When ’Joe’ was once ready for the cotton-wool, the stuffing was as simple as possible; and owing to his toughness we easily sewed up his chest afterwards; but the thing was to get him to look as if he was alive.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The actual stuffing was entirely the work of Bunny.
