used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was put about at that.
matters of personal concern
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
afore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
(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 "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
in addition
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was put about at that.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
biggestadjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡəst/
superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
BoonnounUS /buːn/
a desirable state
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
lacking funds
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
Cobley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
gormed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
hard-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
IndiesnounUS /ˈɪndiz/
plural of “indie” — a pop group not affiliated with a major record company
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
a small worthless amount
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
engage in
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
meddleverbUS /ˈmedəl/
intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
the force of workers available
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
Milly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
not any; not one
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
make a promise or commitment
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He was put about at that.
possessing material wealth
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
express in words
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
she'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
a person, without saying who
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
a male human offspring
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
express in words
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
a special situation
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
up to a particular time
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
tolerableadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːlərəbəl/
capable of being borne or endured
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
precisely as stated
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She knew, under promise of secrecy, that Jack was a tolerable rich man; but he'd bade her not breathe the fact.
(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 And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
at the time that
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading And Mary Cobley knew something else also, which she couldn't very well tell her son till now, so she'd kept her secret; but when she heard as he was busy finding somebody as might be good enough for Milly Boon, the woman in her broke loose and she said a thing she'd never said afore.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Would you say as I didn't ought to meddle in her affairs no more?" he asked.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
zanies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of all zanies, you be the biggest in the parish," said Mrs. Cobley; "and however you had the wits to win a fortune and make hard-headed men in the West Indies believe in you, I'm gormed if I know, Jack!"
