used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
additionaladjectiveUS /əˈdɪʃənəl/
further or added
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
(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 It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
BivalvenounUS /ˈbaɪvælv/
marine or freshwater mollusks having a soft body with platelike gills enclosed within two shells hinged together
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
an occurrence of something
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
demeanornounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
at any time
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
every person
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
favorablyadverbUS /ˈfeɪvərəbli/
showing approval
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
Hawley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
helpfulnessnoun
the property of providing useful assistance
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
modestadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
not any; not one
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
oysternounUS /ˈɔɪstər/
marine mollusks having a rough irregular shell; found on the sea bed mostly in coastal waters
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
free from harm or evil
From this reading The story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
get by special effort
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
shippersnounUS /ˈʃɪpərz/
plural of “shipper” — someone who ships goods
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
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 story of his rescue of Hawley had drawn attention to him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
a source of difficulty
From this reading It was no trouble at all for Alec to secure the shells of additional shippers, for by this time Alec was favorably known to almost everybody at Bivalve.
UNLOOKED-FORadjective
not anticipated
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
precisely as stated
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was a sort of oyster business very different from any he had thought of.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
which person or people
From this reading And his modest demeanor, his cheerful way, and his general spirit of helpfulness, attracted every one who met him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR FRIEND Much sooner than he had ever dreamed would be the case, Alec had an opportunity to become an oyster merchant.
