used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
allegorynounUS /ˈæləɡɔːri/
a short moral story (often with animal characters)
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
applyverbUS /əˈplaɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Why Eleanor, you are mistaken!
for the reason that
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
condemnverbUS /kənˈdem/
express strong disapproval of
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
disrespectnounUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈspekt/
an expression of lack of respect
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
Eleanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why Eleanor, you are mistaken!
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
divisible by two
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
set up or found
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
germnounUS /dʒɜːrm/
anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
interpretedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrprətəd/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
MillernounUS /ˈmɪlər/
United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading “Why Eleanor, you are mistaken!
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
express in words
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
a special situation
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
the act of using
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
usesnounUS /ˈjuːsəz/
plural of “use” — the act of using
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
in or at the place that
From this reading The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why Eleanor, you are mistaken!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Why Eleanor, you are mistaken!
yourselvespronounUS /jʊrˈselvz/
used when the people spoken to are both doing and receiving the action
From this reading “I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves.
