used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
any person at all
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But let us reason it out.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But let us reason it out.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But let us reason it out.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
Natacha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
and nothing more
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But let us reason it out.
by chance
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
poisonedverbUS /ˈpɔɪzənd/
past form of “poison” — spoil as if by poison
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading But let us reason it out.
a strong line
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
make (offspring) by reproduction
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
step-mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But let us reason it out.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
at the time that
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
