used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
eagerly desirous
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading "It wasn't my own choice.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
in a free manner
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
GenevanounUS /dʒəˈniːvə/
a city in southwestern Switzerland at the western end of Lake Geneva; it is the headquarters of various international organizations
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It wasn't my own choice.
JacksnounUS /dʒæks/
a game in which jackstones are thrown and picked up in various groups between bounces of a small rubber ball
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
merchantsnounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃənts/
plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "It wasn't my own choice.
not any; not one
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
objectionnounUS /əbˈdʒekʃən/
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "It wasn't my own choice.
PiersnounUS /pɪrz/
plural of “pier” — a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
RussianounUS /ˈrʌʃə/
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
an educational institution
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
in the near future
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My father talked to me, and seemed so anxious for me to go into business that I made no objection.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Piers liked Mr. Jacks, and was soon chatting freely.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It wasn't my own choice.
at the time that
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
a late time of life
From this reading He told how his education had begun at a private school in London, how he had then gone to school at Geneva, and, when seventeen years old, had entered an office of London merchants, dealing with Russia.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You are reading for the Civil Service, I understand?"
