used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
in addition
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
a state at a particular time
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
designsnounUS /dɪˈzaɪnz/
plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
flashilyadverb
in a meretricious manner
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading But he observed that the young man was followed.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
destroyed or killed
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
engage in
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
not any; not one
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading But he observed that the young man was followed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
a human being
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
on the contrary
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he observed that the young man was followed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The person following was also a young man, rather flashily attired, and, as Paul thought, of suspicious appearance.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
uncommonadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmən/
not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
unscrupulousadjectiveUS /ənˈskruːpjələs/
without scruples or principles
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he observed that the young man was followed.
belonging to which person
From this reading It seemed to him clear that he had designs upon the first young man, whose condition was likely to make him an easy prey to an unscrupulous acquaintance.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Such a sight as this is by no means uncommon in a large city, and of course Paul had witnessed it many times.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But for one circumstance, he would have given the young man a passing glance, and gone on.
