used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
Adirondack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
any person at all
From this reading You must choose not to speak to anyone.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
AshtonnounUS /ˈæʃtən/
British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading You must choose not to speak to anyone.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
deafadjectiveUS /def/
lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
divisible by two
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
something that is lost
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
matter-of-factadjective
not fanciful or imaginative
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You must choose not to speak to anyone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
witty remark
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
express in speech
From this reading You must choose not to speak to anyone.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Sally Ashton inquired in her usual matter-of-fact fashion.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A Conversation and a Loss “I have not spoken to any human being in more than a month,” the stranger said in dull, even tones as if he were deaf.
which person or people
From this reading “There are many people who come to the Adirondack forests and there are towns and villages and cities not many miles away.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You must choose not to speak to anyone.
