used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
abashedadjectiveUS /əˈbæʃt/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
contemptuouslyadverbUS /kənˈtemptʃwəsli/
without respect; in a disdainful manner
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
crestfallenadjectiveUS /ˈkrestfɔːlən/
brought low in spirit
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
fretverbUS /fret/
worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
Guildenstern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
HamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/
compatibility in opinion and action
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
engage in
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
the force of workers available
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
a brief written record
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
organnounUS /ˈɔːrɡən/
a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
persuasiveadjectiveUS /pərˈsweɪsɪv/
intended or having the power to induce action or belief
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
participate in games or sport
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
pluckverbUS /plʌk/
pull or pull out sharply
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
express in speech
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
sternnessnounUS /ˈstɜːrnnəs/
the quality (as of scenery) being grim and gloomy and forbidding
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
stopsnounUS /stɑːps/
a gambling card game in which chips are placed on the ace and king and queen and jack of separate suits (taken from a separate deck)
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
a special situation
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
the upper part of anything
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
unworthyadjectiveUS /ənˈwɜːrði/
lacking in value or merit
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
utterancenounUS /ˈʌtərəns/
the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
From this reading “But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill,” declared Guildenstern.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?--Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
but in spite of that
From this reading “You would play upon _me_; you would seem to know _my_ stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice in this little organ, yet you cannot make it speak.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Why, look you, how unworthy a thing you would make of me!” said Hamlet, his persuasive voice changing to sudden sternness.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The pipe snapped in his slender fingers, as he tossed it contemptuously away, and the two young men stood crestfallen and abashed before his noble scorn.
