used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
in the past
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
chaperonnoun
one who accompanies and supervises a young woman or gatherings of young people
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It wasn’t precisely that,” he laughed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
impliedverbUS /ˌɪmˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “imply” — express or state indirectly
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It wasn’t precisely that,” he laughed.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading “It wasn’t precisely that,” he laughed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, _so_?”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading “It wasn’t precisely that,” he laughed.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Oh, _so_?”
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It wasn’t precisely that,” he laughed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
a special situation
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
communicated in words
From this reading She uttered a little cry of triumph, and laughed in the tone of her outcry.
migratory
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It wasn’t precisely that,” he laughed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
at the time that
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “For one thing, if what you and Mildred believe has any foundation, why, old John certainly needs a chaperon; and, for another thing, I wanted the chance to see for myself if there is any reason to believe what you told me.”
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “So you’re not so sure as you were a little while ago, when you implied that my mind was wandering!
