used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
arguedverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːd/
past form of “argue” — present reasons and arguments
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
Blynn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Slowly he drew her from the door.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Slowly he drew her from the door.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
opinion or judgment
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Slowly he drew her from the door.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
GorgasnounUS /ˈɡɔːrɡəz/
United States Army surgeon who suppressed yellow fever in Havana and in the Panama Canal Zone (1854-1920)
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
come to pass
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Slowly he drew her from the door.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
jus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
leetle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
mebbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
praysverbUS /preɪz/
third-person singular of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading She protested.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She protested.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly he drew her from the door.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
with low volume
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
express in speech
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
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 “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
subtlyadverbUS /ˈsʌtəli/
in a subtle manner
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
tattle-tale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
make an effort or attempt
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
precisely as stated
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
which person or people
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
wit'out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He argued subtly--it was the fight, he said, against the Evil One for the life of a woman, so it needs must be subtle.
the words that are spoken
From this reading “Allen Blynn has not told me in words, for then I could not speak wit’out being tattle-tale, but I have listened wit’ my eyes and wit’ my heart--oh, a very good ear my heart has!--and so I know zat it is the good Allen who prays on his knees every night zat some day he will have courage to ask my Gorgas to try to like him--jus’ a leetle bit, mebbe!”
zat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But it is another story zat I happen to know,” he began softly.
