used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
boldestadjectiveUS /ˈboʊldɪst/
superlative of “bold” — fearless and daring
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
decadesnounUS /deˈkeɪdz/
plural of “decade” — a period of 10 years
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
exceptedverbUS /ɪkˈseptɪd/
past form of “except” — take exception to
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
explorersnounUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrərz/
plural of “explorer” — someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose)
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
FlagstaffnounUS /ˈflæɡstæf/
a town in north central Arizona; site of an important observatory
From this reading The Planting of the Flagstaff.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
brought together in one place
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
the force of workers available
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
navigatorsnounUS /ˈnævəɡeɪtərz/
plural of “navigator” — the ship's officer in charge of navigation
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Planting of the Flagstaff.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
PlantingnounUS /ˈplæntɪŋ/
the act of fixing firmly in place
From this reading The Planting of the Flagstaff.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
rodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
deliver by singing
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
having a supporting base
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
strivenverbUS /ˈstrɪvən/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Planting of the Flagstaff.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
waddled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That individual was strictly attending to his business in the kitchen during the excitement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
in or at the place that
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They gathered in a circle about the steel rod that marked the exact spot for which the boldest navigators and explorers have longed, and striven, and died by thousands during many decades of the past.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole of the party now shouted--Sing always excepted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They ran--or waddled, for they moved with difficulty, loaded as they were--to the spot where the two men and Mrs. Jones were standing.
