used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Preparations for the start were begun at once.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Preparations for the start were begun at once.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
colonel'snounUS /ˈkɜːrnəlz/
possessive form of “colonel” — a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
depressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈpresɪŋ/
causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
flaggingnounUS /ˈflæɡɪŋ/
flagstones collectively
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
flasksnounUS /flæsks/
plural of “flask” — bottle that has a narrow neck
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
set up or found
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
graphicadjectiveUS /ˈɡræfɪk/
written or drawn or engraved
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
Guy'snounUS /ɡaɪz/
possessive form of “guy” — an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
and nothing more
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
on one occasion
From this reading Preparations for the start were begun at once.
the local environment
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
PreparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Preparations for the start were begun at once.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
rugsnounUS /rʌɡz/
plural of “rug” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
seaworthyadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwɔːrði/
fit for a sea voyage
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Preparations for the start were begun at once.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
stowedverbUS /stoʊd/
past form of “stow” — fill by packing tightly
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
testedadjectiveUS /ˈtestɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Then the provisions, the torches, the lamps, the oil flasks, and the rugs were divided into two parts and stowed away.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two canoes were first tested and found to be absolutely seaworthy.
UNWELCOMEadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
precisely as stated
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
someone who visits
From this reading AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Preparations for the start were begun at once.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Guy's stirring speech was just what was needed to rouse the flagging spirits of the party, for the colonel's graphic description of the contemplated journey had produced a very depressing effect.
