adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The explanation came soon.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading The explanation came soon.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
happenverbUS /ˈhæpən/
come to pass
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
HectornounUS /ˈhektər/
(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/
being nothing more than specified
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
missionnounUS /ˈmɪʃən/
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
needlessadjectiveUS /ˈniːdləs/
unnecessary and unwarranted
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
NewmannounUS /ˈnuːmən/
United States film actor (born in 1925)
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/
by chance
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading The explanation came soon.
startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
surprisedadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzd/
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The explanation came soon.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is needless to say that Hector was very much surprised, not to say startled, at this sudden proposal.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What could Mr. Newman possibly want him to go to California for?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading If on business, how did it happen that he trusted a mere boy with so responsible a mission?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “No doubt, you are surprised,” said the merchant, “at the proposal I have made you.
