used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
canalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
a female human offspring
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
desecratedadjectiveUS /dezəˈkreɪtɪd/
treated with disrespect and contempt
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
DISASTERnounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
a movement into or inward
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
enterprisesnounUS /ˈentərpraɪzɪz/
plural of “enterprise” — a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
factoriesnounUS /ˈfæktəriz/
plural of “factory” — a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
garagenounUS /ɡərˈɑːʒ/
an outbuilding (or part of a building) for housing automobiles
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
millsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
a particular point in time
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
a form of address for a man
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
by chance
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading He looked back at the beautiful mansion; it would be a pity to see it desecrated, made into a boarding-house, perhaps.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
portsnounUS /pɔːrts/
plural of “port” — a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
with speed
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
on the contrary
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
cut with a saw
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
skirtedverbUS /ˈskɜːrtɪd/
past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
Smith'snounUS /smɪθs/
possessive form of “smith” — Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NIGHT OF DISASTER BILLY looked after him a moment thinking it rather a pleasant fancy to call mother and daughter “the girls,” but the situation quickly claimed his attention.
Tum-wah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
viaductnounUS /ˈvaɪədəkt/
bridge consisting of a series of arches supported by piers used to carry a road (or railroad) over a valley
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went by the lower gate and skirted the river, a river in volume, though called Tum-wah Creek.
at the time that
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
world'snounUS /wɜːrldz/
possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading As he walked he mentally constructed the scene as it would look when Mr. Smith’s enterprises possessed the valley,—he heard the hum of mills and factories; on the peaceful lake below saw ships entering the canal from the Sound to load for ports, for the world’s far ports.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was still light, and May Nell might come to the garage and discover him; he would go to see the viaduct.
