adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
amountnounUS /əˈmaʊnt/
a quantity of money
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
BEFOREprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
branchesnounUS /ˈbræntʃəz/
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
buyingnounUS /ˈbaɪɪŋ/
the act of buying
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
CALMverbUS /kɑːm/
make calm or still
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
demandnounUS /dɪˈmænd/
an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
diminishingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃɪŋ/
becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
evidentadjectiveUS /ˈevədənt/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
factornounUS /ˈfæktər/
anything that contributes causally to a result
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
fallverbUS /fɔːl/
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
graduallyadverbUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəli/
in a gradual manner
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only the calm before the storm.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
lotsnounUS /lɑːts/
a large number or amount
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
markedadjectiveUS /mɑːrkt/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
marketnounUS /ˈmɑːrkət/
the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
oddadjectiveUS /ɑːd/
not divisible by two
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading It was only the calm before the storm.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
perceptibleadjectiveUS /pərˈseptəbəl/
capable of being perceived by the mind or senses
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/
with low volume
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
regularadjectiveUS /ˈreɡjələr/
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
rushverbUS /rʌʃ/
move hurridly
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
SomebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
STORMverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Early in the fall it became evident to me there was a new factor in the market.
tradenounUS /treɪd/
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Somebody, outside the regular trade, was quietly buying up the odd lots floating around.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Not but what there was a fair amount of business doing all the time, but the great rush was over.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The new year opened as the old one had closed, with marked activity in all branches of my business; nor was there any perceptible change until late in the spring, then began a gradually diminishing demand that made a comparatively dull summer.
