used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
antagonisticadjectiveUS /ænˌtæɡəˈnɪstɪk/
indicating opposition or resistance
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
Briggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading GILBERT’S SHIP COMES IN.
consultverbUS /kənˈsʌlt/
get or ask advice from
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
recognizable; marked
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
being one more than seven
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
yet to be or coming
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
GilbertnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərt/
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
GILBERT'SnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərts/
possessive form of “gilbert” — a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading GILBERT’S SHIP COMES IN.
guardiannounUS /ˈɡɑːrdiən/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
guardian'snounUS /ˈɡɑːrdiənz/
possessive form of “guardian” — a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
of great significance or value
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GILBERT’S SHIP COMES IN.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
absolutely essential
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
PersonallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
transport commercially
From this reading GILBERT’S SHIP COMES IN.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It occurred to him that it might be well to consult a lawyer first; but he finally decided not to do so.
in the near future
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
required or under orders
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gilbert reached his guardian’s house about eight o’clock in the evening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
except if; if not
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Personally Mr. Briggs had treated him kindly, and he did not wish, unless it should prove absolutely necessary, to assume a position antagonistic to him.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading It may well be supposed that Gilbert wished, as soon as possible, to question his guardian on a subject having such an important bearing upon his future career.
