used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
AlbertnounUS /ˈælbərt/
prince consort of Queen Victoria of England (1819-1861)
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
(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 Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
in addition
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
DiplomaticadjectiveUS /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/
relating to or characteristic of diplomacy
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
Farnish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
Grice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
incapacitynounUS /ˌɪnkəˈpæsəti/
lack of intellectual power
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
incompetentnounUS /ˌɪnˈkɑːmpətənt/
someone who is not competent to take effective action
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
Jeckie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
and nothing more
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
a narrow way or road
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
take in marriage
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
parentnounUS /ˈperənt/
a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
saddledadjectiveUS /ˈsædəld/
having a saddle on or being mounted on a saddled animal
From this reading Jeckie alone would have been all right, but Jeckie, saddled with an incompetent parent, was impossible.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
t'best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
carry out
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Diplomatic Father_ Grice drove away down the lane in a curious temper.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
wastingnounUS /ˈweɪstɪŋ/
any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
(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 He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
at the time that
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was angry with himself for wasting a couple of hours of his valuable time; angry with Jeckie for having induced him to do so; angry with Farnish for his incapacity and idleness; still more angry to find that it was hopeless to do what he might have done.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew well enough that Jeckie had been right when she said that he would never find a better wife for Albert; he also knew that after what he had just witnessed he would never allow Albert to marry her.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "And if you can't get t'best," he muttered to himself, "you must take what comes nearest to t'best!
