used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Happy Christmas.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A Happy Christmas.
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
Dennis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Not quite, eh?
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading A Happy Christmas.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
lesson-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
a form of address for a man
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not quite, eh?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
overcoatnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊt/
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
poringverbUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “pore” — direct one's attention on something
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Not quite, eh?
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
schoolroomnounUS /ˈskuːlruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
subsequentadjectiveUS /ˈsʌbsəkwənt/
following in time or order
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
surgerynounUS /ˈsɜːrdʒəri/
the branch of medical science that treats disease or injury by operative procedures
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
express in words
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
at the time that
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
in or at the place that
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "WELL, boys; work nearly finished?" questioned Dr. Dennis, the evening subsequent to Mr. and Mrs. Collins' arrival at B—, as he entered the schoolroom where his sons and his nephew were poring over their lesson-books.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, you'll find me in the surgery when you're ready to hear what I've to tell."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Oh, if it's about your old overcoat, please tell us now, father!"