used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading She was a peculiarly affectionate child, and jealous to boot.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ILL-OMEN.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
bootnounUS /buːt/
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading She was a peculiarly affectionate child, and jealous to boot.
BritonnounUS /ˈbrɪtən/
a native or inhabitant of Great Britain
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
chideverbUS /tʃaɪd/
censure severely or angrily
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She was a peculiarly affectionate child, and jealous to boot.
coaxedverbUS /koʊkst/
past form of “coax” — influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
divertverbUS /daɪˈvɜːrt/
turn aside; turn away from
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
engrossedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡroʊst/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
divisible by two
From this reading It was even so.
exactingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
galleynounUS /ˈɡæli/
a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
a young female
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
ILL-OMEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ILL-OMEN.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was even so.
showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
From this reading She was a peculiarly affectionate child, and jealous to boot.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
come together
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading She was a peculiarly affectionate child, and jealous to boot.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a peculiarly affectionate child, and jealous to boot.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was even so.
in the near future
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
carry out
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
precisely as stated
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was even so.
which person or people
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She knew that, so soon as he landed, his whole attention would be engrossed by her very exacting mother, who moreover would keep her in the background, and would chide should the father divert his notice from herself to his child.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young girl had coaxed the big Briton to take her in a boat to the galley, so as to meet and embrace her father, before he came on shore.
