used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
dislikenounUS /dɪˈslaɪk/
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
apart from; not including
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
set up or found
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
intense and profound fear
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
Howard'snounUS /ˈhaʊərdz/
possessive form of “howard” — English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
narrativenounUS /ˈnærətɪv/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We knew him to be one of a fast crowd, and had always avoided a chance of close companionship.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
RaynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had listened to Howard’s narrative with mingled feelings of horror and pity.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Neither of us had known him except as a college mate; and while we had never been attracted to him, we had not, until recently, found any cause to dislike him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND Howard paused and looked up at Ray with a dazed, hopeless expression of face.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Neither Ray nor I spoke a word for several minutes.
