used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
ant-eaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
casknounUS /kæsk/
the quantity a cask will hold
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
casksnounUS /kæsks/
plural of “cask” — the quantity a cask will hold
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
collapsedverbUS /kəˈlæpst/
past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
a state at a particular time
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
remove the dust from
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
evaporationnounUS /ɪˌvæpərˈeɪʃən/
the process of becoming a vapor
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
apart from; not including
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
set up or found
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
leakingverbUS /ˈliːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “leak” — tell anonymously
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
marinersnounUS /ˈmerənərz/
plural of “mariner” — a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
used to form the superlative
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
as might be expected
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
outlooknounUS /ˈaʊtlʊk/
a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
From this reading What a terrible outlook!
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
rain-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
Identical; not different.
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
stavesnounUS /steɪvz/
plural of “stave” — (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
stewardnounUS /ˈstuːərd/
someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
TalbotnounUS /ˈtælbət/
English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading What a terrible outlook!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
precisely as stated
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
(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 All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a terrible outlook!
at the time that
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays of the sun.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading At the very moment he did so the whole collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust or little else.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading For when the steward went to draw water from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured to send it home a little.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought one morning to Captain Talbot.
