used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Cotherstone's set on it," answered Bent.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading "Cotherstone's set on it," answered Bent.
Brereton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
a boy or man
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
Cotherstone's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cotherstone's set on it," answered Bent.
dearly loved
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
look-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
not any; not one
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
and nothing more
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
perpetuallyadverbUS /pərˈpetʃuːəli/
everlastingly; for all time
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What, so soon!" he said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Cotherstone's set on it," answered Bent.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "What, so soon!" he said.
in the near future
From this reading "What, so soon!" he said.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Dear me, old chap!--I didn't think of its being this side of Christmas."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
unforeseenadjectiveUS /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/
not anticipated
From this reading But of late he had been perpetually on the look-out for all sorts of unforeseen happenings and he managed to do no more than show a little natural astonishment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What, so soon!" he said.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading AT BAY It was only by an immense effort of will that Brereton prevented an exclamation and a start of surprise.
