used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "What a time you have been at it!"
adjustmentnounUS /əˈdʒʌstmənt/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "What a time you have been at it!"
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
bubbledverbUS /ˈbʌbəld/
past form of “bubble” — form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
CANOEnounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
chippingnounUS /ˈtʃɪpɪŋ/
the act of chipping something
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "What a time you have been at it!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
hookverbUS /hʊk/
fasten with a hook
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
lockernounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
absolutely essential
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
in the near future
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
established beyond doubt
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
with speed
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
only a very short time before
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
tacklenounUS /ˈtækəl/
the person who plays that position on a football team
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Is it nearly finished, then?" he said presently.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "What a time you have been at it!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
in the direction of
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
weariedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrid/
exhausted
From this reading He had wearied of fishing, the delicate adjustment of the tackle and the care necessary to keep the hook and line from catching in the branches had quickly proved too much for his patience.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What a time you have been at it!"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He lay on the grass, his feet towards the stream which ran and bubbled beneath, and watched Felix chipping out the block intended to fit into the secret opening or locker.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE CANOE Felix had scarcely worked half an hour before Oliver returned and threw himself on the ground at full length.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What a time you have been at it!"
