used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
in the past
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “He’s an old, old man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
clientnounUS /ˈklaɪənt/
a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
opinion or judgment
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
a boy or man
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He’s an old, old man.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
immediately past
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “He’s an old, old man.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “He’s an old, old man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
and nothing more
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I have a client,” he said at last.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Poor fellow, he seems to have had a horror all his life of making a will.
testamentnounUS /ˈtestəmənt/
a profession of belief
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE MATTER OF A WILL Allen paused a moment, his hands clasped on his knees, his eyes thoughtfully upon them.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Though he retained me a week ago, it was only to-day that I was able to persuade him to put his last will and testament into writing.
