used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
(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 "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But whom have you met to-day?"
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While, if--" "You don't meet him, you don't."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
opinion or judgment
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
come to pass
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But whom have you met to-day?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
Isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
JuliannounUS /ˈdʒuːliən/
Roman Emperor and nephew of Constantine; he restored paganism as the official religion of the Roman Empire and destroyed Christian temples but his decision was reversed after his death (331?-363)
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
come together
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading But whom have you met to-day?"
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
not any; not one
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
on one occasion
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
a special situation
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "No. I mean that if you don't happen to be introduced to him, you probably never set eyes on him at all."
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But whom have you met to-day?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While, if--" "You don't meet him, you don't."
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But whom have you met to-day?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE THIRD SITTING "Isn't it an extraordinary thing," Julian said, on the following evening, "that if you meet a man once in London you keep knocking up against him day after day?
