used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
fencesnounUS /ˈfensəz/
plural of “fence” — a barrier that serves to enclose an area
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
Jarvis's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
neighbournounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
not any; not one
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
on one occasion
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
express in words
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
express in speech
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
strayverbUS /streɪ/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
carry out
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
at the time that
From this reading Once he turned some stray cattle out of John Jarvis's grain, and built up the fences when there was no one at Jarvis's house to do it.
in or at the place that
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But he got a chance to do a good turn once in a while, that told better than words.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "After that it didn't matter what they said or did to him, he wouldn't take his own part.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading They say that for more than a year he didn't speak a word to a man in the neighbourhood where he lives; he couldn't trust himself.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading That wouldn't have been much--any good neighbour would have done as much as that, you know.
