used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONVERSATION IN A WORK-BOX.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
(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 Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading CONVERSATION IN A WORK-BOX.
give a description of
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CONVERSATION IN A WORK-BOX.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
engage in
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
a particular point in time
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
with low volume
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
on the contrary
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
ScissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
in the near future
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps I had better pause for a moment to describe my new companion, before I record our conversation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One end was rounded, the other had been sharp, but a little piece had been broken off the point.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
(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 “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The pair of Scissors, with which I had now to make acquaintance, had rather an old-fashioned air.
WORK-BOX
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERSATION IN A WORK-BOX.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “WELL, what do you think of your new life?” said the Scissors, as soon as we were left quietly in the box.
