used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
(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 Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
placed crosswise
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
divisible by two
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
gangwaynoun
a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
historicadjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪk/
belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
ten 10s
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
immediately past
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
come together
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
passengernounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/
a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
PlymouthnounUS /ˈplɪməθ/
a town in Massachusetts founded by Pilgrims in 1620
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
quaynounUS /kiː/
wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
reluctantlyadverbUS /rɪˈlʌktəntli/
with reluctance
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
done under pressure
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
scrutinizedverbUS /ˈskruːtənaɪzd/
past form of “scrutinize” — to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
having a supporting base
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
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 THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
having come into contact
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Perhaps a hundred passengers had landed at the historic quay, and practically all of them had rushed away to catch the London train.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading I was about to turn away, and go back to the town, when some one touched my arm.
precisely as stated
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
at the time that
From this reading I had scrutinized each face eagerly, but when the last passenger had crossed the gangway I had been reluctantly compelled to assume that my friends, for some reason or other, had not come.
belonging to which person
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST My first meeting with the man whose story I have set out to relate was in Plymouth.
but in spite of that
From this reading I had been standing in the harbour, hoping that the friends I had come to meet might yet appear, even although the chances of their doing so had become very small.
