used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
in the past
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
best-knownadjective
most familiar or renowned
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
a youthful male person
From this reading I said, "I carried papers when I was a boy."
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading I said, "I carried papers when I was a boy."
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
earnverbUS /ɜːrn/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
the force of workers available
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He replied, "I carried papers on the streets of New York City when I was a boy."
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He replied, "I carried papers on the streets of New York City when I was a boy."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading I said, "I carried papers when I was a boy."
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading He replied, "I carried papers on the streets of New York City when I was a boy."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I said, "I carried papers when I was a boy."
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He replied, "I carried papers on the streets of New York City when I was a boy."
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few days ago I sat at a public dinner next to one of the best-known men in this city, and a useful man he is.
being of use or service
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I said, "I carried papers when I was a boy."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
(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 Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
at the time that
From this reading I said, "I carried papers when I was a boy."
which person or people
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We were talking about some of the things boys could busy themselves with and earn a little money.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Now the men who are useful, we shall find, are the men who, as boys, worked as well as played.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading He replied, "I carried papers on the streets of New York City when I was a boy."
