used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ‘Yes, in a minute.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
baldnessnounUS /ˈbɔːldnəs/
the condition of having no hair on the top of the head
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
clever-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
being one more than seven
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘Yes, in a minute.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading ‘Yes, in a minute.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
and nothing more
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
shavenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪvən/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading I want to ask you first if you really are my only chance?’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
an affirmative
From this reading ‘Yes, in a minute.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Oh, very, thank you;--and now you may begin.’
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Yes, absolutely your only one,’ said the small figure sitting on the box, with his hands resting on his knees.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading He was a clever-looking little ghost, eight or nine inches high, clean shaven, with his hair brushed back to hide an evidently increasing tendency to baldness--he was not in his first youth.
