used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
astoundingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
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 Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
fasten with a lock
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
a human being
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Then we can lock up and go.”
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him.
