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At, near,close to,place,time,direction,source/cause,idiomatic phrases - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

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At


319. The general meaning of at is _near_, _close to_, after a verb
or expression implying position; and _towards_ after a verb or
expression indicating motion. It defines position approximately, while
_in_ is exact, meaning _within_.

Its principal uses are as follows:--

(1) _Place where._

They who heard it listened with a curling horror _at_ the
heart.--J.F. COOPER.

There had been a strike _at_ the neighboring manufacturing
village, and there was to be a public meeting, _at_ which he was
besought to be present.--T.W. HIGGINSON.

(2) _Time_, more exact, meaning the point of time at which.

He wished to attack _at_ daybreak.--PARKMAN.

They buried him darkly, _at_ dead of night.--WOLFE

(3) _Direction._

The mother stood looking wildly down _at_ the unseemly
object.--COOPER.

You are next invited...to grasp _at_ the opportunity, and take
for your subject, "Health."--HIGGINSON.

Here belong such expressions as
_laugh at_,
_look at_,
_wink at_,
_gaze at_,
_stare at_,
_peep at_,
_scowl at_,
_sneer at_,
_frown at_,etc.

We _laugh at_ the elixir that promises to prolong life to a
thousand years.--JOHNSON.

"You never mean to say," pursued Dot, sitting on the floor and
_shaking_ her head _at_ him.--DICKENS.

(4) _Source_ or _cause_, meaning _because of_, _by reason of_.

I felt my heart chill _at_ the dismal sound.--T.W. KNOX.

Delighted _at_ this outburst against the Spaniards.--PARKMAN.

(5) Then the idiomatic phrases
_at last_,
_at length_,
_at any rate_,
_at the best_,
_at the worst_,
_at least_,
_at most_,
_at first_,
_at once_,
_at all_, _at one_,
_at naught_,
_at random_, etc.;
and phrases signifying state or condition of being, as,
_at work_,
_at play_,
_at peace_,
_at war_,
_at rest_, etc.


Exercise.--

Find sentences with three different uses of _at_.



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adj. lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
 
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