used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
any person at all
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
discontentnounUS /dɪskənˈtent/
a longing for something better than the present situation
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
discontentedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈtentɪd/
showing or experiencing dissatisfaction or restless longing
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
dishnounUS /dɪʃ/
a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
divisible by two
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
the organ of sight
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
FISHERMANnounUS /ˈfɪʃərmæn/
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
in a free manner
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
and nothing more
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
precisely, exactly
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
ruffleverbUS /ˈrʌfəl/
stir up (water) so as to form ripples
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
scrupulouslyadverbUS /ˈskruːpjələsli/
with extreme conscientiousness
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But even these things did not please him.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
troutnounUS /traʊt/
flesh of any of several primarily freshwater game and food fishes
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FISHERMAN AND HIS CATCH The fisherman was discontented.
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 There had been as good a fly water as anyone could want; there had been enough breeze to ruffle the surface, enough cloud to prevent glare; he had picked just the right flies from his book to suit the river, and the fish rose freely to them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The reasons for his discontent were not plain to the eye.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading He was carrying home as fine a dish of trout as any man could wish for, and had scrupulously thrown back everything under ten and a half inches.
