used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
(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 But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
AllisnounUS /ˈælɪs/
European shad
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
associationsnounUS /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “association” — a formal organization of people or groups of people
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
for the reason that
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
degradedadjectiveUS /dɪˈɡreɪdəd/
unrestrained by convention or morality
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
dishonestadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɑːnəst/
deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
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 “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
not any; not one
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
objectedverbUS /əbˈdʒektəd/
past form of “object” — express or raise an objection or protest or criticism or express dissent
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
by chance
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
pleadingsnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋz/
plural of “pleading” — (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
any competition
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
temptverbUS /tempt/
dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading “No, it's the wicked associations of the race course which I felt degraded a man of your father's character.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Nothing would tempt him to be dishonest in racing, and he always enjoyed it because of his love for horses.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might perhaps have gone on breeding horses, for you wouldn't have objected to that, would you, mother?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “But, mother,” interrupted Allis, “it's impossible now; I think it always was, for, as you know, father knew nothing of other business.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But with all that, mother, if he had been in a position to please you, if he had felt that we--you, and Alan, and I--would not have suffered, I am sure he would have listened to your pleadings and given it up.
