used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
avesnoun
(ornithology) the class of birds
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
creationsnounUS /kriˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “creation” — the human act of creating
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
approval
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
gravel-pit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
and nothing more
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
M'Vayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
rara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
sailor-men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
sand-martins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
express in words
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading I do not care to study the characters of boys who are not just a little bit out of the common run.
carry out
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
express in words
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
precisely as stated
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara aves_--boys who think.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
which person or people
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Ordinary boys are as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth writing about.
but in spite of that
From this reading Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If Duncan M’Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit for any virtue that in him lay, but I don’t mind telling you, reader, that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my fairly fertile brain.
