used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
birthdaysnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪz/
plural of “birthday” — an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
a young person of either sex
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
something many people believe that is false
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
forwardsadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdz/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
Garbel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
GodfathernounUS /ˈɡɑːdfɑːðər/
any man who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
godmothernounUS /ˈɡɑːdmʌðər/
any woman who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
Grumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Grumph_!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
in motion
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
a particular situation
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
make square
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
squeak-leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But I had, and she sent me presents on my birthdays too.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
two times
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had not half so many toys as you have, but we kept them twice as long.
at the time that
From this reading And young people did not get presents when I was a child as they get them now.
winkingnounUS /ˈwɪŋkɪŋ/
a reflex that closes and opens the eyes rapidly
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Can you fancy, young people," said Godfather Garbel, winking with his prominent eyes, and moving his feet backwards and forwards in his square shoes, so that you could hear the squeak-leather half a room off--"can you fancy my having been a very little boy, and having a godmother?
