used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
aliensnounUS /ˈeɪliənz/
plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
(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 After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
carefully weighed
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
let fall to the ground
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He now regretted that feeling.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
Graham'snounUS /ˈɡreɪəmz/
possessive form of “graham” — United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He now regretted that feeling.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
of great significance or value
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Instead, Graham had far more important matters to attend to.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He now regretted that feeling.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading He now regretted that feeling.
express the need or desire for
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
and nothing more
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
spilledverbUS /spɪld/
past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He now regretted that feeling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading After all, the two aliens had made it obvious that they meant to serve him and help him to learn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was, alas, a little bit too late to cry over spilled milk.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Surely they would never have considered it a selfish request on Graham's part had he simply asked that they drop him off in America on their way to wherever they might have been headed.
