used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I hope he will stay till I get back.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
a youthful male person
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I hope he will stay till I get back.”
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading I hope he will stay till I get back.”
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
jostledverbUS /ˈdʒɑːsəld/
past form of “jostle” — make one's way by jostling, pushing, or shoving
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
and nothing more
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading I hope he will stay till I get back.”
express a supposition
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
up to a particular time
From this reading I hope he will stay till I get back.”
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “I suppose he has come about the tin box, too.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
on a floor above
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
Vernon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Harry felt that matters were getting exciting, and a crisis seemed imminent.
which person or people
From this reading Vernon, little dreaming that he was recognized by the office boy—as he took him to be—who had just jostled against him, kept on his way upstairs.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I will hurry as fast as I can,” he said.
