used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
Clara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
discoursesnounUS /dɪˈskɔːrsɪz/
plural of “discourse” — extended verbal expression in speech or writing
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
Ercildoune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
an established custom
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
not any; not one
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
many times at short intervals
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
rampantadjectiveUS /ˈræmpənt/
unrestrained and violent
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
cut with a saw
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
SCOTTnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
She's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
term of address for a man
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
sugar-plum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading "She's as sweet as a sugar-plum," he added, as he continued to look.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
male cat
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What does she mean by getting off such rampant discourses?
in or at the place that
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
which person or people
From this reading "_'Tis an old tale, and often told._" SIR WALTER SCOTT That evening some people who were near them were talking about it, and that made Tom ask Clara if her friend was in the habit of doing startling things.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Indeed I shouldn't," Tom replied; and indeed no one would who saw her then.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Should you think so to look at her now?" queried Clara, looking across the room to where Miss Ercildoune stood.
