used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a feeling of craving something
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
a youthful male person
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
dinner-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
disconcertedadjective
having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
the act of consuming food
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
Gilbert'snounUS /ˈɡɪlbərts/
possessive form of “gilbert” — a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
destroyed or killed
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading HARD UP.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
hero'snounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
possessive form of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
interferedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪrd/
past form of “interfere” — come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
being perceived or observed
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
and nothing more
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
room-mate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading HARD UP.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
at the time that
From this reading His room-mate noticed this, and spoke of it when they had gone up to their room together.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But this was our hero’s first experience of debt which he was unable to pay, and it troubled him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He felt embarrassed at the dinner-table, knowing that he was eating a meal for which he had not the means of paying; and this thought not only interfered with his appetite, but made him unusually silent and reserved.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A street boy, accustomed to live from hand to mouth, would not have been disconcerted on finding himself in Gilbert’s circumstances.
