used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading WHAT BEGAN IT.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
brown-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ‘COME on, Vivian.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
being one more than ten
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
five-and-twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
made afraid
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
the act of departing
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading WHAT BEGAN IT.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
a boy or man
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
the act of departing
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
mischievous-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘COME on, Vivian.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
and nothing more
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
a full supply
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
speakersnounUS /ˈspiːkərz/
plural of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
having a supporting base
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
Vivian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘COME on, Vivian.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
(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, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT BEGAN IT.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading ‘Well, so we will; but it is only five-and-twenty past now, so we have plenty of time for one turn more.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It is high time we were going home; you know we promised mother that we would come off the ice at half-past four.’
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Come on, old stupid; you are always frightened of being late;’ and the younger of the speakers, a brown-eyed, mischievous-looking lad of about eleven, swung off with his three companions, leaving his brother standing watching them, a troubled look on his face.
