used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
Bretons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
traveling across
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
divisible by two
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
set up or found
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
Ile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
Jeanne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
kinnounUS /kɪn/
a person having kinship with another or others
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
lighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
Lucien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
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 So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
take in marriage
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
the force of workers available
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
not any; not one
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
Ouessant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They had some talk together of crossing over and finding a house on the mainland; but it came to nothing.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "But meanwhile Lucien and Jeanne had no room to marry and set up house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a heavy time for them.
wearsnounUS /werz/
plural of “wear” — impairment resulting from long use
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading So many weeks on duty, so many weeks ashore--thus it works, and even so the loneliness wears them; though our Bretons, being silent men by nature, endure it better than the rest.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The parents on both sides would not hear of it, and in truth Jeanne would have found it lonely on the mainland, away from her friends and kin; for Lucien, you see, must in any case spend half his time on the lighthouse on Ile Ouessant.
