used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I would be ... lonely without the pater."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
BulldogverbUS /ˈbʊldɔːɡ/
attack viciously and ferociously
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
caningsnounUS /ˈkeɪnɪŋz/
plural of “caning” — work made of interlaced slender branches (especially willow branches)
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
caressingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
one or the other of two
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
f-for
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I would be ... lonely without the pater."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
and nothing more
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading I would be ... lonely without the pater."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
n-naughty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
Nestie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
obedientadjectiveUS /oʊˈbiːdiənt/
dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
many times at short intervals
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
paternounUS /ˈpeɪtər/
an informal use of the Latin word for father; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
From this reading I would be ... lonely without the pater."
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
cut with a saw
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
scholarnounUS /ˈskɒl.ər/
A specialist in a particular branch of study; a distinguished student.
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
shrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
soapnounUS /soʊp/
a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
spongedverbUS /spʌndʒd/
past form of “sponge” — wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
SundaysnounUS /ˈsʌndeɪz/
plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
Th-thank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
towelnounUS /ˈtaʊəl/
a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
precisely as stated
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie was nursing him as best he could.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
accept gladly
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
at the time that
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestie smiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor the master was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a very shrewd little man.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sponged his father's face--threatening to let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried it with a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly and caressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I would be ... lonely without the pater."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I would be ... lonely without the pater."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and got cold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know there are ... just the two of us, and ...
