used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
highly skilled
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
(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 He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
borrowverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊ/
get temporarily
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
dollarnounUS /ˈdɑːlər/
the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
gamblernounUS /ˈɡæmblər/
a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
GarrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
hazardousadjectiveUS /ˈhæzərdəs/
involving risk or danger
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
honestlyadverbUS /ˈɑːnəstli/
(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
possessing material wealth
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
riskedverbUS /rɪskt/
past form of “risk” — expose to a chance of loss or damage
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
speculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading He risked every dollar he had, and all he could borrow in hazardous real estate speculations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
valuesnounUS /ˈvæljuːz/
beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something)
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was touch and go many times, as the values rose and fell.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He thought it well over, and became what he had always condemned in others--a gambler.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had no business ability, at least that is what he told people, and honestly believed it; how could he? he had never been in business.
a late time of life
From this reading It took some years to become a “rich fool,” but Garrison accomplished it.
