used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.
advisedadjectiveUS /ædˈvaɪzd/
having the benefit of careful prior consideration or counsel
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
matters of personal concern
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
brokernounUS /ˈbroʊkər/
a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
depreciationnounUS /dɪˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃən/
a decrease in price or value
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
DISAGREEABLEadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/
a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
to a considerable degree
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
of the present time and place
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
investedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəd/
past form of “invest” — make an investment
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
involveverbUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlv/
connect closely and often incriminatingly
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
and nothing more
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
something that is lost
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
on one occasion
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
on the contrary
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
receiptnounUS /rɪˈsiːt/
the act of receiving
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
move upward
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
securitiesnounUS /sɪˈkjʊrətiz/
plural of “security” — the state of being free from danger or injury
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
statingverbUS /ˈsteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “state” — express in words
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was advised to sell out at once, in order to guard against a probable further depreciation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Davis was seated in his office, but it was his own personal affairs rather than the business of the factory that engaged his attention.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This was far from satisfactory, since an immediate sale would involve a loss of nearly a thousand dollars.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading He was just in receipt of a letter from his broker in New York, stating that there were but slender chances of a rise in the price of some securities in which he had invested heavily.
