used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
(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 Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
any person at all
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
economizeverbUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmaɪz/
use cautiously and frugally
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading THE ENGAGEMENT.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
invaluableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvæljəbəl/
having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
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 Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
and nothing more
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
cut with a saw
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
not in physical motion
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
straitsnounUS /streɪts/
a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ENGAGEMENT.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Our effort to economize and still not seem to do so was a struggle, and probably did not deceive anyone.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
at the time that
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
in or at the place that
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Jack understood all our needs and straits and helped us wherever he could,—not in money, but in many ways where a man’s advice and assistance are invaluable.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter succeeding father’s death was a hard one for us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was now agent for a large firm which paid him well, and as he was traveling only a part of the time we saw a great deal of him, and the evenings when he was not with us seemed monotonous and long.
