used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
for the reason that
From this reading This was not strange because they quarreled often.
botheredadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːðərd/
caused to show discomposure
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
made afraid
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
GardnernounUS /ˈɡɑːrdnər/
United States collector and patron of art who built a museum in Boston to house her collection and opened it to the public in 1903 (1840-1924)
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
many times at short intervals
From this reading This was not strange because they quarreled often.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
and nothing more
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
quarreledverbUS /ˈkwɔːrəld/
past form of “quarrel” — have a disagreement over something
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
realizationnounUS /ˈriːləˈzeɪʃən/
coming to understand something clearly and distinctly
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
salesmannounUS /ˈseɪlzmən/
a man salesperson
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading This was not strange because they quarreled often.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
surviveverbUS /sərˈvaɪv/
continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So he asked the salesman to show him-- They quarreled at breakfast.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was not strange because they quarreled often.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
precisely as stated
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was not strange because they quarreled often.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But it bothered him after he'd called for his car and was on the way to his office, he realized she was the only one left.
which person or people
From this reading The realization came suddenly and now he was frightened--this strange man who needed friends as a spider needs flies--in order to survive.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading John Gardner made up his mind to buy his wife a very unusual present--one she could not resist.
