used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
handkerchiefsnounUS /ˈhæŋkərtʃəfs/
plural of “handkerchief” — a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
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 Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
Octavia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
peasnounUS /piːz/
plural of “pea” — seed of a pea plant used for food
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading PLAYING SHIP.
popgunnoun
plaything consisting of a toy gun that makes a popping sound
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
puddleverbUS /ˈpʌdəl/
wade or dabble in a puddle
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
transport commercially
From this reading PLAYING SHIP.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
two times
From this reading Then Octavia fired peas out of a little popgun twice, and this was meant as a long farewell to the land.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
wagon-body
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
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 Now this ship was an old wagon-body, and had never been in water deeper than a mud puddle.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading After they were fairly on board they waved their handkerchiefs for a good by to their friends on shore.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A dozen little girls climbed in with great bustle and confusion, pretending they were walking a plank and climbing up some steps.
