used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
AcademynounUS /əˈkæd.ə.mi/
A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading HARRY BECOMES AN AUTHOR.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading HARRY BECOMES AN AUTHOR.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading HARRY BECOMES AN AUTHOR.
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
Centreville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
provide a cure for, make healthy again
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
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 The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading HARRY BECOMES AN AUTHOR.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
not any; not one
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
a full supply
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
postoffice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
scholarsnounUS /ˈskɑːlərz/
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The closing of the Academy made quite a difference in the life of Centreville.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
vacancynounUS /ˈveɪkənsi/
being unoccupied
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
WaltonnounUS /ˈwɔːltən/
English composer (1902-1983)
From this reading Harry Walton felt quite lonely at first; but there is no cure for loneliness like occupation, and he had plenty of that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The greater part of the day was spent in the printing office, while his evenings and early mornings were occupied in study and reading.
withdrawalnounUS /wɪðˈdrɔːəl/
a retraction of a previously held position
From this reading The number of boarding scholars was about thirty, and these, though few in number, were often seen in the street and at the postoffice, and their withdrawal left a vacancy.
