used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
how long something has existed
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
for the reason that
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
a youthful male person
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys were quite unalike in many ways.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
set up or found
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
GAINSnounUS /ɡeɪnz/
plural of “gain” — a quantity that is added
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The boys were quite unalike in many ways.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
PROMOTIONnounUS /prəˈmoʊʃən/
a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The boys were quite unalike in many ways.
repressedadjectiveUS /riˈprest/
characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an earnest, downright quality to Tom that the older boy was attracted by.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
male cat
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
unalikeadjective
not alike or similar
From this reading The boys were quite unalike in many ways.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TOM GAINS PROMOTION That was the beginning of the friendship.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading The boys were quite unalike in many ways.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The boys were quite unalike in many ways.
at the time that
From this reading Then when Sidney found that, in spite of an inclination toward unusual seriousness in one of his age, Tom had a perfectly good, if somewhat repressed, sense of humour, Sidney took to him in earnest.
which person or people
From this reading Sidney, who had begun being nice to Tom to please his mother, continued being nice to him because he liked him.
