used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/
present in great quantity
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
having companions or an escort
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
(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 All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
auks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
the lower side of anything
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
catchersnounUS /ˈkætʃɜːrz/
plural of “catcher” — (baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
Comox
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
crustaceansnounUS /krəˈsteɪʃənz/
plural of “crustacean” — any mainly aquatic arthropod usually having a segmented body and chitinous exoskeleton
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
diligentlyadverbUS /ˈdɪlədʒəntli/
with diligence; in a diligent manner
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
ducksnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
fowlnounUS /faʊl/
a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
gravellyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrævəli/
abounding in small stones
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
guillemots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
hair-seals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
hostsnounUS /hoʊsts/
plural of “host” — a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/
of less size or importance
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
mollusksnounUS /ˈmɑːləsks/
plural of “mollusk” — invertebrate having a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a shell
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
many times at short intervals
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
oysternounUS /ˈɔɪstər/
marine mollusks having a rough irregular shell; found on the sea bed mostly in coastal waters
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
seagullsnounUS /ˈsiːɡʌlz/
plural of “seagull” — mostly white aquatic bird having long pointed wings and short legs
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
shoalnoun
a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
SpitverbUS /spɪt/
expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
sundownnounUS /ˈsʌndaʊn/
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
very small
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
turnstones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
vegetablenounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəl/
edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
voyagersnounUS /ˈvɔɪɪdʒərz/
plural of “voyager” — a traveler to a distant land (especially one who travels by sea)
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
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 All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
water'snounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
possessive form of “water” — 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 All these were picking a fat living there from the water or from the gravelly beach at the water's edge.
water-fowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The larger fowl fed on fish and mollusks on the bottom; the lesser ones on the small crustaceans, which are abundant among the vegetable life near the beach.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There were hosts of water-fowl about the shore,--ducks of several kinds, seagulls, guillemots, and auks; while along the beach ran oyster catchers, turnstones, and many other shore birds.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading FOOD FROM THE SEA The voyagers worked on steadily through the day, and three or four hours before sundown they landed at Comox Spit, two or three miles from the village of Comox.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading All through the day numbers of hair-seals had been seen diligently fishing in the shoal waters, and often an old one was accompanied by her tiny young.
