used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
ferry-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
a small worthless amount
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
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 When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
not any; not one
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
OgdennounUS /ˈɑːɡdən/
English psychologist who collaborated with I. A. Richards in designing Basic English (1889-1957)
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
by chance
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
Staten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "No running around for me this time!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
at the time that
From this reading When Jack Ogden left the Staten Island ferry-boat, he felt somewhat as if he had made an unexpected voyage to China, and perhaps might never return to his own country.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I won't lose sight of her," said Jack, thoughtfully.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was late in the afternoon, and he had been told by the little man that the ferry-boat would wait an hour and a half before the return voyage.
