used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
(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 “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “The lady called it quicksilver,” I observed.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
at any time
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “Was it, then, no relation of my friend?”
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “The lady called it quicksilver,” I observed.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “The lady called it quicksilver,” I observed.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
full of life and energy
From this reading THE LIVELY METAL.
METALnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading THE LIVELY METAL.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Was it, then, no relation of my friend?”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
not any; not one
From this reading “Was it, then, no relation of my friend?”
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “The lady called it quicksilver,” I observed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
philosophernounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfər/
a specialist in philosophy
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
quicksilveradjectiveUS /ˈkwɪkˈsɪlvər/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading “The lady called it quicksilver,” I observed.
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
From this reading “Was it, then, no relation of my friend?”
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
rustverbUS /rʌst/
become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
cut with a saw
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
ScissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
spitefuladjectiveUS /ˈspaɪtfəl/
showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIVELY METAL.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Was it, then, no relation of my friend?”
ThimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
up to a particular time
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “WHAT was that extraordinary metal,” cried I, “which I took for a ball of silver, till I saw the drops running about on the carpet?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Ha! ha!” laughed the spiteful old Scissors, which, speck of rust and all, had been replaced in the box, “you never saw the solemn philosopher, Mrs. Thimble, ever cutting a dance like that!”
