used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Is he a--a--a gentleman, now, do you think?”
EnglishmannounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
a boy or man
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
a man of refinement
From this reading Is he a--a--a gentleman, now, do you think?”
the act of departing
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
good-lookingadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdlʊkɪŋ/
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
irrespectiveadverbUS /ˌɪrəˈspektɪv/
in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
engage in
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Is he a--a--a gentleman, now, do you think?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Particularly so,” said I; “and got up quite irrespective of expense.
SpainnounUS /speɪn/
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Is he a--a--a gentleman, now, do you think?”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
uncommonlyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːmənli/
exceptionally
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “Well, those things are so different in Spain, that it’s almost impossible to make an Englishman understand them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
(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 “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Well, I’ve been looking at him,” said Johnson--which was true enough; “he’s a----an uncommonly good-looking fellow, isn’t he?”
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What is he?” said I, going up to my friend Johnson, with a whisper.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Is he a--a--a gentleman, now, do you think?”
