used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
for the reason that
From this reading It was offered because you had given me--life."
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
explanatoryadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsplænətɔːri/
serving or intended to explain or make clear
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading It was offered because you had given me--life."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was offered because you had given me--life."
only a very short time before
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was offered because you had given me--life."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was offered because you had given me--life."
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading It was offered because you had given me--life."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
express in speech
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
showing curiosity
From this reading "I can hardly see how that position could come about," she said, with an air of wondering.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It wasn't one that a common occasion would have called forth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You see," he went on in an explanatory tone, "it was an unusual sort of promise--a promise made, so to speak, for value received--for unusual value received.
