used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
despondentlyadverb
with desperation
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
one or the other of two
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
encouragementnounUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒmənt/
the expression of approval and support
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
divisible by two
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
favorablyadverbUS /ˈfeɪvərəbli/
showing approval
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
a young female
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
haphazardadjectiveUS /hæpˈhæzərd/
dependent upon or characterized by chance
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
an occurrence of something
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading THE INTERVIEW.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
take the midday meal
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
the force of workers available
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
not any; not one
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
procuredverbUS /proʊˈkjʊrd/
past form of “procure” — get by special effort
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
rebuffverbUS /rɪˈbʌf/
reject outright and bluntly
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE INTERVIEW.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
Wentworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
belonging to which person
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
