used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading However, come in and see the boss."
a youthful male person
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/
a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading However, come in and see the boss."
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
criticallyadverbUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəli/
in a critical manner
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
grimyadjectiveUS /ˈɡraɪmi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
only a very short time before
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, come in and see the boss."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading However, come in and see the boss."
located inward
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
on one occasion
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
provisionnounUS /prəˈvɪʒən/
a stipulated condition
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading However, come in and see the boss."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
stubbyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbi/
short and blunt
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Once there seemed a chance of success.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He had gone into a big provision store and asked the clerk behind the counter if they wanted a boy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
in or at the place that
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He took Chester into a dark, grimy little inner office where a fat, stubby man was sitting before a desk with his feet upon it.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, we do," said the clerk, looking him over critically, "but I hardly think you'll fill the bill.
