used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
(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 He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
on or to one side
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
true confidential information
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
DUCKLINGnounUS /ˈdʌklɪŋ/
flesh of a young domestic duck
From this reading THE REALLY UGLY DUCKLING.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
life'snounUS /laɪfs/
possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
not any; not one
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading THE REALLY UGLY DUCKLING.
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
reticentadjectiveUS /ˈretɪsənt/
temperamentally disinclined to talk
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
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 I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE REALLY UGLY DUCKLING.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading THE REALLY UGLY DUCKLING.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
belonging to which person
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the life's outlines, though, with what it really was, aside from details, I became, in a degree, familiar.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He turned, to the woman across the table: "All right; I will stay."
a late time of life
From this reading I am but telling the story of a man of whose life from this time for two years I know but little.
but in spite of that
From this reading He was always reticent about these years, yet always said he had no occasion to regret them.
