used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
anew
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
(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 PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
Barnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
convictionsnounUS /kənˈvɪkʃənz/
plural of “conviction” — an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
demurredverbUS /dɪˈmɜːrd/
inflected form of “demur” — take exception to
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading We must stick it out to the end.”
fairnessnounUS /ˈfernəs/
conformity with rules or standards
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
a social unit living together
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
and nothing more
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We must stick it out to the end.”
have ownership or possession of
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
Philomela
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
participate in games or sport
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
precinctsnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
prodigalnounUS /ˈprɑːdɪɡəl/
a recklessly extravagant consumer
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
recurring again and again
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading We must stick it out to the end.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
a special situation
From this reading It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
(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 It meant just one thing; that in all fairness, he must now play the brother in this household as well as the prodigal.
at the time that
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
a Caucasian
From this reading Lying there in his room on the little white bed, Barnes repeated that again to himself.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He had been admitted within these sacred precincts not as a friend, but as an actor.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading PLAYING THE GAME Barnes had said to Aunt Philomela when she demurred at certain things running counter to her own convictions, “Now that we have begun this game, we must play it for all it’s worth.
