used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
belongingsnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋz/
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
having made preparations
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading The next night that door was locked on the inside.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
janitornounUS /ˈdʒænətər/
someone employed to clean and maintain a building
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
and nothing more
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
the act of departing
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
engage in
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
a particular point in time
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The next night that door was locked on the inside.
being perceived or observed
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The next night that door was locked on the inside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
and nothing more
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
promisingadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːməsɪŋ/
showing possibility of achievement or excellence
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
prospectiveadjectiveUS /prəˈspektɪv/
of or concerned with or related to the future
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
carry out
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
tenantnounUS /ˈtenənt/
someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
a special situation
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But, thinking better of it, locked the door and led the way downstairs.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading However, they came to terms as I have said, and the man went away, promising to send in his belongings the next day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
which person or people
From this reading He smiled as he said this and the janitor who had rarely seen such a change take place in a human face, looked uncomfortable for a moment and seemed disposed to make some remark about the room they were leaving.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading As the prospective tenant followed, he may have noticed, probably did, that the door they had just left was a new one--the only new thing to be seen in the whole shabby place.
