used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
in the past
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
bakedadjectiveUS /beɪkt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
beansnounUS /biːnz/
plural of “bean” — any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae used for food
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
cannedadjectiveUS /kænd/
recorded for broadcast
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
CattynounUS /ˈkæti/
any of various units of weight used in southeastern Asia (especially a Chinese measure equal to 500 grams)
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
cut with a saw
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
hurting
From this reading I was sore.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
confined on all sides
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
tarpaulinnoun
waterproofed canvas
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
thinkernounUS /ˈθɪŋkər/
an important intellectual
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
tomatoesnounUS /təˈmeɪtoʊz/
plural of “tomato” — mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was sore.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There wasn’t any reason for our being there that I could see, and there were a million reasons for our being some place else.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There we were—Catty and I—under a tarpaulin and entirely surrounded by canned tomatoes and baked beans and enemies.
at the time that
From this reading When I saw the light of that lantern I began to think.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Right off I realized I should have started up my thinker a long while ago.
