the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
ColeridgenounUS /ˈkoʊlrɪdʒ/
English romantic poet (1772-1834)
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
deferredverbUS /dɪˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “defer” — hold back to a later time
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
disobeyverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ/
refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
expressingverbUS /ɪkˈspresɪŋ/
-ing form of “express” — give expression to
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
gailyadverbUS /ˈɡeɪli/
in a gay manner
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
granddaughternounUS /ˈɡrændɔːtər/
a female grandchild
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
on one occasion
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
and nothing more
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
opinionsnounUS /əˈpɪnjənz/
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
PersianounUS /ˈpɜːrʒə/
an empire in southern Asia created by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and destroyed by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
REBELLIONnounUS /rɪˈbeljən/
refusal to accept some authority or code or convention
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
snubbedverbUS /snʌbd/
inflected form of “snub” — refuse to acknowledge
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
plural of “story” — 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 Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Colonel Douglas told such entertaining stories, and deferred so often to her, that she surprised her grandfather by expressing opinions of her own.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
unmercifullyadverb
without pity; in a merciless manner
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He snubbed her unmercifully more than once, but she did not as usual sink under it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JEAN was not quite so silent at dinner that night.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
wearsnounUS /werz/
plural of “wear” — impairment resulting from long use
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading REBELLION "We would be free as Nature, but forget That Nature wears an universal law, Free only, for she cannot disobey."—H. Coleridge.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You must come out to Persia, Mr. Desmond," said the Colonel gaily, "and bring your granddaughter with you.
