used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/
past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
componentnounUS /kəmˈpoʊnənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
comradenounUS /ˈkɑːmræd/
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
cross-leggedadverb
with the legs crossed
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
Céligny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading “The devil!
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
half-darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “WHAT IS MIRABEL?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
occurring by chance
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
engage in
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
MIRABEL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “WHAT IS MIRABEL?”
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
neighbouringverbUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
reduceverbUS /rəˈduːs/
cut down on; make a reduction in
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
Roland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
sackingnounUS /ˈsækɪŋ/
coarse fabric used for bags or sacks
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “WHAT IS MIRABEL?”
which person or people
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Mine cannot be ‘made,’ though a careless movement will reduce it to its component elements.”
hope for; have a wish
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
wrestledverbUS /ˈresəld/
past form of “wrestle” — combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force
From this reading “I wish I had been taught how to make a bed!” complained Roland de Céligny, as he wrestled with his blanket in the half-darkness of the attic.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “You may think yourself lucky to have a bed to make!” retorted a comrade who sat cross-legged on a neighbouring pile of sacking.
