used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I have digressed long enough.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
constellationsnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “constellation” — an arrangement of parts or elements
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
travel across or pass over
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
placed crosswise
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
degreesnounUS /dɪˈɡriːz/
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
digressedverbUS /daɪˈɡrest/
past form of “digress” — lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking
From this reading But I have digressed long enough.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But I have digressed long enough.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But I have digressed long enough.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I have digressed long enough.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
incompatibilitynounUS /ˌɪnkɑːmpətɪˈbɪlɪti/
the relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
incompleteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/
not complete or total; not completed
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/
plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
landmarksnounUS /ˈlændmɑːrks/
plural of “landmark” — the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
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 But I have digressed long enough.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
MagellannounUS /məˈdʒelən/
Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain; he commanded an expedition that was the first to circumnavigate the world (1480-1521)
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
accept an excuse for
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/
the state of being retired from one's business or occupation
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
for a short time
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
not in physical motion
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
unavailingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈveɪlɪŋ/
producing no result or effect
From this reading For several nights afterward we strained our eyes and patience in unavailing search for the North Star.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Shortly after this the glorious Southern Cross disappeared from our view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
at the time that
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I now return to the old Pacific and her inmates, as she was when we crossed the line, or a few degrees to the southward of it; at which time we lost sight of the Magellan clouds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
a late time of life
From this reading These two constellations had been for years our landmarks in the heavens, (pardon the incompatibility of the expression,) and had become so familiar that at night the horizon seemed to us incomplete without them; but still we hailed their retirement from our view with delight, for it was an earnest of home.
