used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am not surprised at that,” returned the captain.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
ARRANGINGnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I am not surprised at that,” returned the captain.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
a youthful male person
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “It certainly does seem unlikely.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It certainly does seem unlikely.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
Grover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
only a very short time before
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
of great significance or value
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It certainly does seem unlikely.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
merchantsnounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃənts/
plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “I am not surprised at that,” returned the captain.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “It certainly does seem unlikely.
senioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/
older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
and nothing more
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading “I am not surprised at that,” returned the captain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can have received such an important commission.”
unlikelyadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪkli/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading “It certainly does seem unlikely.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
at the time that
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise.
a late time of life
From this reading ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping merchants, by whom he had been for years employed.
