used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
(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 shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
atticsnounUS /ˈætɪks/
plural of “attic” — floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
embarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading Alan was notorious for the embarrassing nature of his questions.
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alan was notorious for the embarrassing nature of his questions.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
Moggridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Alan was notorious for the embarrassing nature of his questions.
notoriousadjectiveUS /noʊˈtɔːriəs/
known widely and usually unfavorably
From this reading Alan was notorious for the embarrassing nature of his questions.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
and nothing more
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Alan was notorious for the embarrassing nature of his questions.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
a male human offspring
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
tacticaladjectiveUS /ˈtæktɪkəl/
of or pertaining to tactic or tactics
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I’ve got it!" he shouted, as he danced excitedly from one foot to the other.
universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
except if; if not
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading "I shall know how to find that out," was all that Mr. Moggridge could reply, and Alan felt that he had obtained a tactical victory.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Alan was notorious for the embarrassing nature of his questions.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
which person or people
From this reading Mr. Moggridge looked at his only son as at someone who had asked him the riddle of the universe.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "If you smell gas you go up to the attics: if you——" "But how shall we know it’s gas unless we know what it smells like?" questioned Alan.
