used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
Brandon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
commoditiesnounUS /kəˈmɑːdətiz/
plural of “commodity” — articles of commerce
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
EARLYadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
grocernounUS /ˈɡroʊsər/
a retail merchant who sells foodstuffs (and some household supplies)
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
grocer'snounUS /ˈɡroʊsərz/
possessive form of “grocer” — a retail merchant who sells foodstuffs (and some household supplies)
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
grocerynounUS /ˈɡroʊsəri/
a marketplace where groceries are sold
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
a form of address for a man
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
pimplyadjective
(of complexion) blemished by imperfections of the skin
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
pricesnounUS /ˈpraɪsəz/
plural of “price” — the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
on the contrary
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter.
Tubbs's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
unattractive-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading EARLY Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon.
