used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was the Rhinoceros, next door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
gruffadjectiveUS /ɡrʌf/
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
HippopotamusnounUS /ˌhɪpəˈpɑːtəməs/
massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
and nothing more
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It was the Rhinoceros, next door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
quarrelingverbUS /ˈkwɑːrəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “quarrel” — have a disagreement over something
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
railingsnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋz/
plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
RhinocerosnounUS /raɪˈnɑːsərəs/
massive powerful herbivorous odd-toed ungulate of southeast Asia and Africa having very thick skin and one or two horns on the snout
From this reading It was the Rhinoceros, next door.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
precisely as stated
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Well!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the Rhinoceros, next door.
(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!" said a deep, gruff voice from the other side of the railings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Hippopotamus and he didn't get on very well together; indeed, they were always quarreling, so that it was just as well that there were bars between them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If I had a mouth as large and as ugly as that I would keep it shut, at any rate."
