used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
(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 But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
amateurnounUS /ˈæmətɜːr/
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
CarlylenounUS /ˈkɑːrlaɪl/
Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution (1795-1881)
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
crimesnounUS /kraɪmz/
plural of “crime” — (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "My position is this," he explained.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
feenounUS /fiː/
a fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "My position is this," he explained.
ten 10s
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
a message received and understood
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
injusticenounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/
an unjust act
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My position is this," he explained.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My position is this," he explained.
not any; not one
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
nominaladjectiveUS /ˈnɑːmənəl/
relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "My position is this," he explained.
plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
remedied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
express in words
From this reading For any information I should require a fee, a quite nominal fee of, say, one hundred pounds."
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "My position is this," he explained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In that capacity I have averted one or two crimes, remedied an occasional injustice, and now and then been of service to my professional friend, Louis Carlyle.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading But there is no reason at all why I should serve a commercial firm in an ordinary affair of business for nothing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "So far my work has been entirely amateur.
