used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
a youthful male person
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
demandingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmændɪŋ/
requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
dismissverbUS /dɪˈsmɪs/
bar from attention or consideration
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
docileadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːsəl/
willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
a boy or man
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
moving swiftly
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
galanounUS /ˈɡælə/
a gay festivity
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
brought together in one place
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
the act of departing
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
honoursnoun
a university degree with honors
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
insistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstənt/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
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 The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
information about recent and important events
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
posedadjectiveUS /poʊzd/
arranged for pictorial purposes
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
not often
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
uncomfortablyadverbUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in physical discomfort
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
someone who visits
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My little boy came flying to me one fair day; he cried out that he had news for me, that great things were going on in the town.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
at the time that
From this reading The matter did not interest me; I had so little in common with the people; and I was about to dismiss it idly, when Boy posed me by demanding that I should personally conduct him through the events of the gala day.
which person or people
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
belonging to which person
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He was unusually insistent about this; for he was a docile little fellow, who seldom urged his will uncomfortably against my own.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A visitor was expected, whose promised arrival had set the whole place astir with joy.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The child knew nothing of what or whom he spoke, but I gathered the impression that some distinguished guest was about to reach us, to whom the honours of the city would be extended.
