used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
speak to
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
ashman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
an occurrence of something
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
deem to be
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
dearly loved
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
EditornounUS /ˈedətər/
a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
formerlyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrmərli/
at a previous time
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
IdlernounUS /ˈaɪdələr/
person who does no work
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
MERITnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
From this reading T. P.
physiciannounUS /fəˈzɪʃən/
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
scavengernounUS /ˈskævəndʒər/
a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
term of address for a man
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading T. P.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
a special situation
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE REWARD OF MERIT _To the Editor of The Idler._ DEAR SIR: I am an ashman, or, as they call me nowadays, a scavenger.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
precisely as stated
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that I am now employed as a scavenger, but I was formerly the occupant of a very different station in life; I was formerly a physician.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
at the time that
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish to lay before you what I consider the causes of my descent in the social scale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It may appear to you, Sir, a queer thing that a man in my station in life should address a letter to an editor and upon such a subject, but when I have made you acquainted with the facts of my case, I think it will not seem so strange.
