used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GAINING A FOOTHOLD.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "When will he be back?" asked Rod.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "When will he be back?" asked Rod.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "When will he be back?" asked Rod.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
a youthful male person
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
FOOTHOLDnounUS /ˈfʊthoʊld/
an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies
From this reading GAINING A FOOTHOLD.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
GAININGverbUS /ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading GAINING A FOOTHOLD.
gentleman'snounUS /ˈdʒentəlmʌnz/
possessive form of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
destroyed or killed
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
RodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
securedverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrd/
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
up to a particular time
From this reading "Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him is about five o'clock."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
Vanderveer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see the superintendent and ask for employment.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
at the time that
From this reading "When will he be back?" asked Rod.
in or at the place that
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
which person or people
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "When will he be back?" asked Rod.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So he made his way to that gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with President Vanderveer.
