used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
from appearances alone
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
CANVASSverbUS /ˈkænvəs/
get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
canvassingnounUS /ˈkænvəsɪŋ/
persuasion of voters in a political campaign
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
dealernounUS /ˈdiːlər/
someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
DECEPTIONnounUS /dɪˈsepʃən/
a misleading falsehood
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I did, and a very good stroke of business I made of it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
INSTRUMENTSnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I did, and a very good stroke of business I made of it.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I did, and a very good stroke of business I made of it.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
MUSICALadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
organsnounUS /ˈɔːrɡənz/
edible viscera of a butchered animal
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
pianosnounUS /piˈænoʊz/
plural of “piano” — a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
polishnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/
the property of being smooth and shiny
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
ROASTERnounUS /ˈroʊstər/
a harsh or humorous critic (sometimes intended as a facetious compliment)
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
SELLINGnounUS /ˈselɪŋ/
the exchange of goods for an agreed sum of money
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
a special situation
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I got to selling pianos and organs by the merest chance.
TRICKERYnounUS /ˈtrɪkəri/
verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
From this reading SELLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—TRICKERY AND DECEPTION—LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW—SELLING THE ROASTER—THE CANVASS.
precisely as stated
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
in or at the place that
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was canvassing with a furniture polish, which was really a very good thing, and one day went into a store where musical instruments were sold, hoping to do a stroke of business.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The dealer had some talk with me, apparently liked my style, and finally offered me very good terms to work for him a scheme he had in view.
