used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
(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 All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading BRINGING THE SKELETON OUT.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
put or send forth
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
at any time
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
joiningnounUS /ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
the act of bringing two things into contact (especially for communication)
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
immediately past
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
lodgingsnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋz/
temporary living quarters
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
take the midday meal
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
engage in
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
and nothing more
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
on one occasion
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
and nothing more
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
organismnounUS /ˈɔːrɡənɪzəm/
a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading BRINGING THE SKELETON OUT.
outdooradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtdɔːr/
located, suited for, or taking place in the open air
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
SKELETONnounUS /ˈskelətən/
something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading BRINGING THE SKELETON OUT.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
the state of being asleep
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
strenuousadjectiveUS /ˈstrenjuːəs/
characterized by or performed with much energy or force
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BRINGING THE SKELETON OUT.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
thenceadverbUS /ðens/
from that place or that time
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading The only outdoor exercise he had ever taken consisted in walking from his sleeping quarters to his boarding place, and thence to the office, back to the boarding place for lunch, then back once more for supper and to his lodgings for sleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
at the time that
From this reading During the last few months, since joining the "army," he had had evening exercise of a strenuous nature, but it came at a time of life when it merely ran down the physical organism instead of building it up.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading All his life--ever since he had been cast adrift to make his own way in the world--he had been a clerk.
wroughtadjectiveUS /rɔːt/
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading The old clerk was so wrought up over the business he had in hand that he had given scant consideration to himself.
