used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
AFTERNOON'SnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
possessive form of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading AN AFTERNOON’S WORK.
(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 “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFTERNOON’S WORK.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
a youthful male person
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
demanding attention
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
take in solid food
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
being one more than seven
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
a man of refinement
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
engage in
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
the force of workers available
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
Nello
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
Identical; not different.
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading “Old men do not eat children,” but he drew back a little, and stopped crying all the same.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
a special situation
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I don’t believe you,” said the little boy, whom England had much improved in strength.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You are eight--past! and then the old gentleman downstairs is such a funny, funny old man, that he will eat us, Nello, if we make a noise.”
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading AN AFTERNOON’S WORK.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You must not cry, Nello; for one thing you are too big to cry; or if you are not too big you are too old.
