used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
in the past
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Simply an old sailor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
a youthful male person
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
in a gradual manner
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
JOSHUAnounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːə/
(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
and nothing more
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
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 Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Who was the Old Sailor?
on one occasion
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Who was the Old Sailor?
Identical; not different.
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
and nothing more
From this reading Simply an old sailor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Who was the Old Sailor?
a special situation
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading In those times many boys did just the same thing, but that kind of boyish romance has been gradually dying away, and is now almost dead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading JOSHUA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO GO TO SEA.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
precisely as stated
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Who was the Old Sailor?
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 Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
at the time that
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
which person or people
From this reading Who was the Old Sailor?
a late time of life
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Having been a very young sailor indeed once upon a time, a great many years ago now, when, quite a little boy, he ran away from home and went to sea out of sheer love for blue water.
