used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
conventionalities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading "It is in danger of it--for me," said Meg.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
enmitynounUS /ˈenməti/
a state of deep-seated ill-will
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
divisible by two
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
communicated in words
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It is in danger of it--for me," said Meg.
friendlinessnounUS /ˈfrendlinɪs/
a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Mrs. Thorpe!" he said.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is in danger of it--for me," said Meg.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is in danger of it--for me," said Meg.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
MegnounUS /meɡ/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading "It is in danger of it--for me," said Meg.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Mrs. Thorpe!" he said.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It is in danger of it--for me," said Meg.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Mrs. Thorpe!" he said.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
ThorpenounUS /θɔːrp/
outstanding United States athlete (1888-1953)
From this reading "Mrs. Thorpe!" he said.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading He did not even pretend not to be astonished; he was too clever a man to waste time in futile conventionalities.
at the time that
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading He had always his wits about him; and he spoke in a tone that expressed neither enmity nor friendliness; a surprise put George instinctively on guard.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "The world must certainly be coming to an end when you come to me!"
