used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
(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 Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
AntarcticnounUS /ænˈtɑːrktɪk/
the region around the south pole: Antarctica and surrounding waters
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
daringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
ENTERPRISEnounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading THE OUTSET OF THE ENTERPRISE.
essayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
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 But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE OUTSET OF THE ENTERPRISE.
OUTSETnounUS /ˈaʊtset/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading THE OUTSET OF THE ENTERPRISE.
penetrateverbUS /ˈpenətreɪt/
pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
pioneersnounUS /ˌpaɪəˈnɪrz/
plural of “pioneer” — someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
polaradjectiveUS /ˈpoʊlər/
having a pair of equal and opposite charges
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
regionsnounUS /ˈriːdʒənz/
plural of “region” — the extended spatial location of something
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
express in speech
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
sphinxnounUS /sfɪŋks/
an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
surpassverbUS /sərˈpæs/
distinguish oneself
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
express in words
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OUTSET OF THE ENTERPRISE.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
a special situation
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And this time, who could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak for the first time to human ears!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
in the direction of
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
not known
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to surpass all my former experiences.
which person or people
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
belonging to which person
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But I was under a spell which drew me towards the unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Who would have believed such a thing of me.
