used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
adenoidsnounUS /ˈædənɔɪdz/
plural of “adenoid” — a collection of lymphatic tissue in the throat behind the uvula (on the posterior wall and roof of the nasopharynx)
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
in the past
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
(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 All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading To have an operation was, he thought, to run another and unnecessary risk.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
divisible by two
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To have an operation was, he thought, to run another and unnecessary risk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
information about recent and important events
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
not any; not one
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
OPERATIONnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading To have an operation was, he thought, to run another and unnecessary risk.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading To have an operation was, he thought, to run another and unnecessary risk.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To have an operation was, he thought, to run another and unnecessary risk.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OPERATION The news came as a distinct shock to him.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
undergoingverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading He had not even entertained the possibility of undergoing an operation.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading To have an operation was, he thought, to run another and unnecessary risk.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading All along he had told himself he would recover in time--that was all he wanted.
a late time of life
From this reading Years ago he had had his adenoids removed, and the memory was by no means pleasant.
