used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
ADRIFTadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading ADRIFT IN LIVERPOOL ONCE MORE.
advance-note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, I was penniless.
boarding-master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
clothing in general
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
delicate-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
heedlessadjective
marked by or paying little heed or attention
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ADRIFT IN LIVERPOOL ONCE MORE.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
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 For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
LIVERPOOLnounUS /ˈlɪvərpuːl/
a large city in northwestern England; its port is the country's major outlet for industrial exports
From this reading ADRIFT IN LIVERPOOL ONCE MORE.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading ADRIFT IN LIVERPOOL ONCE MORE.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
not any; not one
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
on one occasion
From this reading ADRIFT IN LIVERPOOL ONCE MORE.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
pennilessadjectiveUS /ˈpeniləs/
not having enough money to pay for necessities
From this reading Besides, I was penniless.
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
punyadjectiveUS /ˈpjuːni/
inferior in strength or significance
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
not in physical motion
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
carry out
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
precisely as stated
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading I had little clothes but what I was wearing, and I felt sure no boarding-master would take me in on the chance of my paying him out of my advance-note here.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
at the time that
From this reading That night I slept soundly, heedless of to-morrow; but when the day dawned the problem of what I was to do confronted me, and a very awkward question it was.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For I was still so puny in size and so delicate-looking that I knew it would be no easy matter to persuade any one to employ me.
