used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
AlaricnounUS /ˈælərɪk/
king of the Visigoths who captured Rome in 410 (370-410)
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
attentionsnounUS /əˈtenʃənz/
plural of “attention” — the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
biddingnounUS /ˈbɪdɪŋ/
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
the two together, not just one
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
dipverbUS /dɪp/
immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
take in liquids
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
set up or found
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
herdernounUS /ˈherdər/
German philosopher who advocated intuition over reason (1744-1803)
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
Jose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
nearbyadjectiveUS /ˈnɪrˈbaɪ/
close at hand
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
and nothing more
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
the act of departing politely
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
PROSPERITYnounUS /prɑːˈsperəti/
an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
the season of growth
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
steadiedadjectiveUS /ˈstedid/
made steady or constant
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
not in physical motion
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
tanknounUS /tæŋk/
an enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
up to a particular time
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
a shaky motion
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
the act of using
From this reading The spring had always been there; but it had been easier for lazy Alaric, the herder, to fill the barrel now and then--or let the rain do it for him--and use from that till the supply failed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
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 He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading PROSPERITY AND PARTING They were both so excited that at first they couldn't talk, but could only stare at each other in speechless delight.
in or at the place that
From this reading Dorothy dropped down upon the stones where they had been sitting and watched the child.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He did not now dip water from the tank at the cabin door but from a nearby spring, which Jim had found and cleared of rubbish.
Zaraza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim was trembling, for he was still weak from his long illness, and he steadied himself by attentions to Zaraza and by bidding Jose in Spanish to bring the stranger a drink.
