used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
propose a payment
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
a large and stately mansion
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
ceremoniesnounUS /ˈserəmoʊniz/
plural of “ceremony” — a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
innkeepernounUS /ˈɪnkiːpər/
the owner or manager of an inn
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
jestingadjective
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
loftilyadverb
in a lofty manner
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
the force of workers available
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
mockedverbUS /mɑːkt/
past form of “mock” — treat with contempt
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
not one and not the other of two
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
not any; not one
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
Quixote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Have I the air of an innkeeper?' asked Don Quixote loftily.
receivesverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/
third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
squiresnounUS /ˈskwaɪərz/
plural of “squire” — young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
travellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
at the time that
From this reading 'I do not know of what you have the air,' answered the man, 'but this I _do_ know, and that is that you are jesting when you call this inn a castle.'
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
which person or people
From this reading We are neither knights nor squires, but honest travellers, who need corn for our horses, and that without delay.'
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading 'What sort of castle is this, which receives no guests without such ceremonies?' mocked one of the men.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'If you are the innkeeper, bid your servants open to us without delay.
