used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
AlongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
aristocratsnounUS /ərˈɪstəkræts/
plural of “aristocrat” — a member of the aristocracy
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
billowsnounUS /ˈbɪloʊz/
plural of “billow” — a large sea wave
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
enjoymentnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt/
the pleasure felt when having a good time
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For me there was no return now to the rock.
forebodings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
for a limitless time
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
depressingly dark
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
gloriouslyadverbUS /ˈɡlɔːriəsli/
with glory or in a glorious manner
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
gullverbUS /ɡʌl/
make a fool or dupe of
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
limpetnoun
mollusk with a low conical shell
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
social deportment
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
not any; not one
From this reading For me there was no return now to the rock.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
querynounUS /ˈkwiːri/
an instance of questioning
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading For me there was no return now to the rock.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
an educational institution
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
soaringadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/
ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such forebodings, however, were rare and did not interfere with my complete enjoyment of present pleasures.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Along with them I caught the manners of the little aristocrats of my sister's school.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For me there was no return now to the rock.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
wadingnounUS /ˈweɪdɪŋ/
walking with your feet in shallow water
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For me there was no return now to the rock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Whether it were better to be the limpet fixed to its rock, forever free from change, or the wild gull soaring over shores and sea, now wading in the mud, now riding gloriously on the crest of the billows, is a query which has often agitated me since the time I abandoned the home of my childhood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I thought of my home with a gloomy dread lest I should have to return to it.
