used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
(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 It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
for the reason that
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
Beeswaxnoun
a yellow to brown wax secreted by honeybees to build honeycombs
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
BirchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
CustomernounUS /ˈkʌstəmər/
someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
Customer'snounUS /ˈkʌstəmərz/
possessive form of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
ExplorationnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
the act of departing
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
GRAINSnounUS /ɡreɪnz/
plural of “grain” — a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
only a very short time before
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
go away from a place
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
pirate'snounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
possessive form of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
RatnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
RiverbanknounUS /ˈrɪvərbæŋk/
the bank of a river
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
cut with a saw
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
an educational institution
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
shanty-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
ToughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
Treasure-Hunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Old Uncle Beeswax came to the island a day or so before we left, and he said the Tough Customer and the Rat had given up digging for the land pirate’s treasure.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading It did seem as if the Land Pirate’s Treasure-Hunting and Exploration Company had had about as bad luck as the Tough Customer, too, and that our hunting had been wasted.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It got along to the first of September, and all of us had to leave Birch Island and go back down to Riverbank, because we had to go to school.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
at the time that
From this reading Uncle Beeswax had hardly gone when we saw the Tough Customer’s old shanty-boat floating down the river, past our island, and we knew they had given up hope and were going away.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading GRAINS OF SAND For a while nothing much happened.
