used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
eagerly desirous
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
bigamistnoun
someone who marries one person while already legally married to another
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
blossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/
produce or yield flowers
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
BrookenounUS /brʊk/
English lyric poet (1887-1915)
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
delicacynounUS /ˈdeləkəsi/
the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
entreatverb
ask for or request earnestly
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
flatteredverbUS /ˈflætərd/
past form of “flatter” — praise somewhat dishonestly
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
Geoffrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
death of a person
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
highwaymen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
indulgencenounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒəns/
an inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
inflictverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪkt/
impose something unpleasant
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
for more time
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
take in marriage
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
not any; not one
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
perchanceadverbUS /pərˈtʃæns/
through chance
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
persistencenounUS /pərˈsɪstəns/
the property of a continuous and connected period of time
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
petulantlyadverb
in a petulant manner
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
established beyond doubt
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
PrudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
Prue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
term of address for a man
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
not in physical motion
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading But do not, I entreat you, try my patience much longer."
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
Tyburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
wooingnounUS /ˈwuːɪŋ/
a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading If, perchance, one of these twenty highwaymen escaped, and that one proved to be the one you helped me to marry, your hasty wooing might cause poor Prudence Brooke to blossom on Tyburn Tree or, worse still, to end her days on a cotton plantation.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Believe me, however impatient I may appear as a lover, as a husband you will find me a pattern of indulgence.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "No doubt, Sir Geoffrey, I ought to be flattered by your persistence," replied Prue petulantly, "but if you have so little delicacy as to press one husband upon me before the other is in his grave, you surely are not anxious to inflict upon me the possible fate of a bigamist?
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "No subject is pleasant to me but one—yourself," said Sir Geoffrey, with an effort to resume his ordinary manner.
