used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
for the reason that
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
a youthful male person
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
casuallyadverbUS /ˈkæʒəwəli/
not methodically or according to plan
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
courteouslyadverb
in a polite manner
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
evening'snounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
possessive form of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
happy-go-luckyadjective
cheerfully irresponsible
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
engage in
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
on one occasion
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
cut with a saw
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
studentnounUS /ˈstuːdənt/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They saw signs of extraordinary talent in him.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
two times
From this reading Once or twice, thinking to make life pleasant for him, they had invited him to their club, or to some evening’s entertainment, and always Michael had courteously declined, saying that he had an engagement for the evening.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He studied hard, and seemed to know what he was about all day.
which person or people
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading They casually questioned Will French, the other student, who was a happy-go-lucky; in the office because his father wished him to study something and not because he wanted to.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Now about this time the law firm with whom Michael worked became deeply interested in their new “boy.”
