Chapter XI · Chapter 11

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

later than; following

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

(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 You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

any thing at all

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

confined by bonds

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Now what do you say to that?"

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

a small worthless amount

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

and nothing more

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used to form the superlative

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

and nothing more

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

United States feminist (1885-1977)

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

skillful after much practice

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

express in words

From this reading Now what do you say to that?"

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

express in speech

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

plural of “style” — how something is done or how it happens

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

carry out

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

express in words

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

communicated in the form of words

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

an interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpoint

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

(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 "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Now what do you say to that?"

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

which person or people

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Now," said Paul, with a comical air of importance--"now, any one who has anything at his tongue's end, has it, or _can_, just as well as not, have it at his finger's end.

produce a literary work

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading "Oh, nothing," after a little pause--"however I doubt that any one, male or female, can take up pen for the first time and tell a tale like a practised writer."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If you can tell a story well, and you can, Jack, you know you can, you can write it just as well.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You have only to tell it with your pen instead of with your lips; and if you will only write it exactly as you speak it, so long as your verbal version is a good one, your pen version is bound to be equally as good; moreover, it seems to me that in this way one is likely to adopt the most natural style, which is, of course, the best of all styles.