used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
(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 There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
at or in or to any place
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
arisenverbUS /ərˈɪzən/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
set up or found
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
the act of departing
From this reading GOING TO SCHOOL.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
mechanicnounUS /məˈkænɪk/
a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
an educational institution
From this reading GOING TO SCHOOL.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
study-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They had opened a door, and found themselves in one of the study-rooms of the school.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading GOING TO SCHOOL.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
at the time that
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
which person or people
From this reading "Is the boss mechanic anywhere about?" asked Jack, who chanced to be the first who entered the college when they found it.
belonging to which person
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There were fifty men and women there, all interested with their books, and the best of order prevailed.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A young man, whose seat was near the door, on seeing that the boys were strangers, had arisen and asked them what he could do for them.
