used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
confined by bonds
From this reading It was bound for a seaport town in France.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
CHANDOS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EMILY CHANDOS.
rid of obstructions
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
the first light of day
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
EMILY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EMILY CHANDOS.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was bound for a seaport town in France.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading It was bound for a seaport town in France.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was bound for a seaport town in France.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
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 The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
night-clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
seaportnounUS /ˈsiːpɔːrt/
a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo
From this reading It was bound for a seaport town in France.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
not in physical motion
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It was bound for a seaport town in France.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
wharves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the grey dawn of an August morning, I stood on a steamer that was about to clear out from alongside one of the wharves near London Bridge.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The passengers were coming on board—not many; it did not appear that the boat would have much of a freight that day.
but in spite of that
From this reading Scarcely dawn yet, the night-clouds still hung upon the earth, but light was breaking in the eastern horizon.
