used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
ALBANYnounUS /ˈɔːlbəni/
state capital of New York; located in eastern New York State on the west bank of the Hudson river
From this reading THE PASSENGER FROM ALBANY.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
confineverbUS /kənˈfaɪn/
place limits on (extent or amount or access)
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
depotnounUS /ˈdiːpoʊ/
station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE PASSENGER FROM ALBANY.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
inwardadjectiveUS /ˈɪnwərd/
relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
and nothing more
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
and nothing more
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
PASSENGERnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/
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 PASSENGER FROM ALBANY.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
profitnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
promisingadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːməsɪŋ/
showing possibility of achievement or excellence
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
the possibility of future success
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
river-boats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PASSENGER FROM ALBANY.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew the hour of arrival, not only for the river-boats, but for most of the inward trains, for this was required by his business.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
at the time that
From this reading He had just finished smoking a cheap cigar when the boat arrived.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One afternoon he made his way to the pier at which the Albany boats landed.
whimnounUS /wɪm/
a sudden desire
From this reading Ben did not confine himself to any particular pier or railway depot, but stationed himself now at one, now at another, according as the whim seized him, or as the prospect of profit appeared more or less promising.
