used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He could spin me yarns by the hour.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could spin me yarns by the hour.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
the organ of sight
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
GRIF
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been a sea captain in his youth.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He could spin me yarns by the hour.
humourousadjective
full of or characterized by humor
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
jovialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊviəl/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
ponderous-speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
portlyadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrtli/
euphemisms for “fat”
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
rubicundadjective
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading He had been a sea captain in his youth.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
spinverbUS /spɪn/
revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
From this reading He could spin me yarns by the hour.
stutterverbUS /ˈstʌtər/
speak haltingly
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could spin me yarns by the hour.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
undeniableadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbəl/
not possible to deny
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
unendingadjectiveUS /əˈnendɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading There was a humourous twist to each sentence he turned, and this in connection with an undeniable stutter made conversation with him an unending source of joy.
visagenounUS /ˈvɪzədʒ/
the human face (“kisser” and “smiler” and “mug” are informal terms for “face” and “phiz” is British)
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
WANZA'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPTAIN GRIF WANZA’S father had always been an interesting personality to me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a portly, ponderous-speaking man, with a rubicund visage, a twinkling eye, and a jovial smile.
yarnsnounUS /jɑːrnz/
plural of “yarn” — the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events
From this reading He could spin me yarns by the hour.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading He had been a sea captain in his youth.
