used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
in the past
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
(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 The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
avocations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
boardersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “boarder” — a tenant in someone's house
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
a youthful male person
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
charmedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrmd/
strongly attracted
From this reading Their new home charmed them in every particular.
a person who is in charge
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Their new home charmed them in every particular.
FaynounUS /feɪ/
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
the act of departing
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading GOOD NEWS.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Their new home charmed them in every particular.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their new home charmed them in every particular.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
a small worthless amount
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
JuliannounUS /ˈdʒuːliən/
Roman Emperor and nephew of Constantine; he restored paganism as the official religion of the Roman Empire and destroyed Christian temples but his decision was reversed after his death (331?-363)
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
the force of workers available
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
information about recent and important events
From this reading GOOD NEWS.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
occupyverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪ/
keep busy with
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
operatornounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Their new home charmed them in every particular.
try to get or reach
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
swappingverbUS /ˈswɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “swap” — exchange or give (something) in exchange for
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their new home charmed them in every particular.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
which person or people
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a week after Julian and Jack went to their new boarding-house they had much to occupy their attention--so much, indeed, they did not think of going down to the telegraph office and "swapping a few lies" with the chief operator.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mr. Fay had not forgotten that _he_ had been a boy in the not so very long ago, and the boarding-house he had chosen for them was such as he would have chosen for himself.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The boarders were young men who, like themselves, had come out West to seek their fortunes, and they were all employed in various avocations in the city.
