adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
accidentaladjectiveUS /ˌæksəˈdentəl/
happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
affairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
anywhereadverbUS /ˈeniwer/
at or in or to any place
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
BasilnounUS /ˈbæzəl/
any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
bran-pie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
concernnounUS /kənˈsɜːrn/
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
enthusiasmnounUS /ɪnˈθuːziæzəm/
a feeling of excitement
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
fishedverbUS /fɪʃt/
past form of “fish” — seek indirectly
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
goodsnounUS /ɡʊdz/
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
GrantverbUS /ɡrænt/
let have
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
hookedadjectiveUS /hʊkt/
curved down like an eagle's beak
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
intimatesnounUS /ˈɪntəməts/
plural of “intimate” — someone to whom private matters are confided
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
lifelongadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪˈflɔːŋ/
continuing through life
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
MostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
omnibusnounUS /ˈɑːmnəbəs/
an anthology of articles on a related subject or an anthology of the works of a single author
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
person'snounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/
possessive form of “person” — a human being
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
randomadjectiveUS /ˈrændəm/
lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
reverseverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrs/
change to the contrary
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
samplesnounUS /ˈsæmpəlz/
plural of “sample” — a small part of something intended as representative of the whole
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
talkverbUS /tɔːk/
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
trainverbUS /treɪn/
create by training and teaching
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
unsociableadjective
not inclined to society or companionship
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
vanishedadjectiveUS /ˈvænɪʃt/
having passed out of existence
From this reading Most of these chance acquaintances, of course, vanished into darkness out of his life.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
windfallsnounUS /ˈwɪndfɔːlz/
plural of “windfall” — fruit that has fallen from the tree
From this reading A few here and there got hooked on to him, so to speak, and became his lifelong intimates, but there was an accidental look about all of them as if they were windfalls, samples taken at random, goods fallen from a goods train or presents fished out of a bran-pie.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He went through the world, as it were, as if he were always on the top of an omnibus or waiting for a train.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would talk to any one anywhere, and talk not only well but with perfectly genuine concern and enthusiasm for that person's affairs.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Basil Grant had comparatively few friends besides myself; yet he was the reverse of an unsociable man.
