used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
the state of being absent
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
for the reason that
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
on the far side of; further than
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
croniesnounUS /ˈkroʊniz/
plural of “crony” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading Did you not find your cronies there?"
CyrilnounUS /ˈsɪrəl/
Greek missionary; the invention of the Cyrillic alphabet is attributed to him (826-869)
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did you not find your cronies there?"
one or the other of two
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Did you not find your cronies there?"
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
mansionsnounUS /ˈmæntʃənz/
plural of “mansion” — (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
methought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "I should like it much, John.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Did you not find your cronies there?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
PoolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
SAVOYnounUS /səˈvɔɪ/
a geographical region of historical importance; a former duchy in what is now southwestern France, western Switzerland, and northwestern Italy
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I should like it much, John.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Did you not find your cronies there?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
WilkesnounUS /wɪlks/
English reformer who published attacks on George III and supported the rights of the American colonists (1727-1797)
From this reading THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an hour.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Did you not find your cronies there?"
