used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
speak to
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
ALEC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
BOOTHnounUS /buːθ/
a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
cause to be bored
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
conveniencenounUS /kənˈviːnjəns/
the state of being suitable or opportune
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
forciblyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrsəbli/
in a forcible manner
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
horse-racing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
lady-love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
the literary culture
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
not any; not one
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
and nothing more
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
referverbUS /rəˈfɜːr/
make reference to
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
signaturenounUS /ˈsɪɡnətʃər/
your name written in your own handwriting
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
sloweradverbUS /ˈsloʊər/
more slowly
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Like a fool, he believed her story of being forcibly taken away in a cab.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of these letters arrested his attention; it did not refer, like the others, to horse-racing, it bore no address and no proper signature.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
look attentively
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ALEC BOOTH was at his office looking over his letters that were handed to him by his clerk.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading He read slowly— “If Mr. Booth is wise he will watch his lady-love more carefully.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading He was not a quick reader, and a still slower writer, so his clerk was not only a convenience, but a necessity.
