used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
audiblyadverbUS /ˈɑːdəbli/
in an audible manner
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
a young female
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
grewsome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
It'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
kirkyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
lassnounUS /læs/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
immediately past
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
not one, and not any
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
perkyadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrki/
characterized by liveliness and lightheartedness
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
playfullyadverbUS /ˈpleɪfəli/
in a playful manner
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
preyedverbUS /preɪd/
past form of “prey” — profit from in an exploitatory manner
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
Rotha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
express in words
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
Sim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
snuffleverb
sniff or smell inquiringly
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
sonsie-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
stound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
sustainingverbUS /səˈsteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “sustain” — lengthen or extend in duration or space
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
carry out
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
top-sark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading He had always been a grewsome body, sustaining none of the traditions of his craft for perky gossip.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sim was heavily in debt, and this preyed on his mind.
(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'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
at the time that
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
whimperverbUS /ˈwɪmpər/
cry weakly or softly
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
but in spite of that
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading “It'll be well for you, Rotha, when you give me my last top-sark and take me to the kirkyard yonder,” the little man would snuffle audibly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hush, father,” the girl would say, putting the palm of her hand playfully over his mouth, “you'll be sonsie-looking yet.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your father is nothing but an ache and a stound to you, lass,” Sim would say in a whimper.
