used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading ANCIENT MARINER.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
ascendencynounUS /əˈsendənsi/
the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
farmersnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
home-made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
not in action or at work
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
laudableadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːdəbəl/
worthy of high praise
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
leveenounUS /ˈlevi/
a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
MARINERnounUS /ˈmerənər/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading ANCIENT MARINER.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
a form of address for a man
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
Nathan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
not any; not one
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
OrleansnounUS /ˈɔːrliənz/
a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
coated with paint
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
plain-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
transport commercially
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
steamboatnounUS /ˈstiːmboʊt/
a boat propelled by a steam engine
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
caught or fixed
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
the rays of the sun
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
transitnounUS /ˈtrænzɪt/
a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripod
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly called at home "Uncle Nathan."
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
variableadjectiveUS /ˈveriəbəl/
liable to or capable of change
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Day after day, day after day, We stuck,--nor breath, nor motion,-- As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean."
(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 He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was about the time of the events related in the preceding chapters, at the close of a variable day, in which the storm and sunshine seemed to struggle for the ascendency, that a plain-looking, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He was one of the better class of New England farmers, an old bachelor, well to do in the world, and was now engaged in the laudable enterprise of seeing the country.
