used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
ablutionnounUS /əˈbluːʃən/
the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
arouseverbUS /ərˈaʊz/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
Conal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
forenounUS /fɔːr/
front part of a vessel or aircraft
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
HighlandnounUS /ˈhaɪlənd/
elevated (e.g., mountainous) land
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
immediately past
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
without good reason
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
the force of workers available
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
on one occasion
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
rillnounUS /rɪl/
a small stream
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
rubverbUS /rʌb/
move over something with pressure
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
sardinesnounUS /sɑːrˈdiːnz/
plural of “sardine” — small fatty fish usually canned
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
shakings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
be seated
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
skippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
snow-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
TalbotnounUS /ˈtælbət/
English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/
painstakingly careful and accurate
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
having come into contact
From this reading He touched Captain Talbot lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Duncan was first to the fore in the morning.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
at the time that
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
in or at the place that
From this reading He had been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in particular.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water rill.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal.
