used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
(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 His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He was wet, cold, and hungry.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading How had it come open? and what did it contain?
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading How had it come open? and what did it contain?
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading How had it come open? and what did it contain?
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
the act of retaining something
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How had it come open? and what did it contain?
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading He was wet, cold, and hungry.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
locketnounUS /ˈlɑːkɪt/
a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
unaccountablyadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbli/
in an unaccountable manner
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was adrift in a fog, far out at sea, in a frail open boat.
(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 His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading He was wet, cold, and hungry.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading How had it come open? and what did it contain?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His situation was about as uncomfortable as can well be imagined; but all this was lost sight of and forgotten in the thoughts aroused by that golden ball, which during his sleep he must have taken from his neck, and which had so unaccountably been opened.
showing curiosity
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It seemed to Breeze as though daylight never would come, as he lay there holding the open locket in his hand and wondering about it.
