used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
absorbingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He liked the motion of the boat when once he had mastered it.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
BOYHOODnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
clothing in general
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
ColombonounUS /kəˈlʌmboʊ/
the capital and largest city of Sri Lanka; has one of the largest harbors in the world; is located on the western coast of the island of Ceylon
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
Hong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He liked the motion of the boat when once he had mastered it.
Kong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
MaltanounUS /ˈmɔːltə/
a republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/
understood perfectly
From this reading He liked the motion of the boat when once he had mastered it.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading He liked the motion of the boat when once he had mastered it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
on one occasion
From this reading He liked the motion of the boat when once he had mastered it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
sightseeingnounUS /ˈsaɪtˈsiːɪŋ/
going about to look at places of interest
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
snatchesnounUS /ˈsnætʃɪz/
plural of “snatch” — a small fragment
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
Southampton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And in those days one had to change boats between Hong Kong and Southampton.
TORTUREDadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were snatches of absorbing sightseeing at Colombo and at Malta.
at the time that
From this reading He liked the motion of the boat when once he had mastered it.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He liked the way the foreign women eyed his clothes; not one of them had garments half so fine.
WunounUS /wuː/
a dialect of Chinese spoken in the Yangtze delta
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A TORTURED BOYHOOD On the whole, young Wu enjoyed the voyage.
