used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
(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 Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
corduroysnoun
cotton trousers made of corduroy cloth
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading The first puzzle that presented itself was one of costume.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
recognizable; marked
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
put on clothes
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first puzzle that presented itself was one of costume.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
heinousadjectiveUS /ˈheɪnəs/
extremely wicked, deeply criminal
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The first puzzle that presented itself was one of costume.
jiffynounUS /ˈdʒɪfi/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
in order that something should not happen
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
be obedient to
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
offensenounUS /əˈfens/
a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The first puzzle that presented itself was one of costume.
and nothing more
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
PICKERING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The first puzzle that presented itself was one of costume.
puzzleverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading The first puzzle that presented itself was one of costume.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
required or under orders
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During the Feast he was supposed to dress in his best each day; he decided to obey orders as far as was possible.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
tweeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GEORGE PICKERING PLAYS THE MAN Martin was awakened by the rays of a bright autumn sun.
be dressed in
From this reading Should he wear his commonplace corduroys, or don all that was left of his gray tweeds?
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He sprang out of bed in a jiffy, lest he should be late for breakfast, a heinous offense at the farm; but the sight of William feeding the pigs in the yard beneath told him that it was only half-past six.
