used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GUY FINDS A FRIEND.
adaptverbUS /əˈdæpt/
make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
befallenverbUS /bəˈfɑːlən/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
calamitiesnounUS /kəˈlæmətiz/
plural of “calamity” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading GUY FINDS A FRIEND.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading GUY FINDS A FRIEND.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
highest in quality
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading GUY FINDS A FRIEND.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
something that is lost
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
misfortunesnounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “misfortune” — unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
self-reliantadjective
(of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
swordsnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bob was so self-reliant, and could so easily adapt himself to circumstances that Guy had already learned to lean upon him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
WalkernounUS /ˈwɔːkər/
New Zealand runner who in 1975 became the first person to run a mile in less that 3 minutes and 50 seconds (born in 1952)
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading POOR GUY! his misfortunes were following close upon the heels of one another.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was at swords’ points with Bob Walker, and he did not see how he could get on without him.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading He had looked upon the loss of his money as the greatest of calamities, but now a worse had befallen him.
