used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
blue-clay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
deem to be
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
at any time
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were the only thing worth looking for.
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
set up or found
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
HoracenounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They were the only thing worth looking for.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
not one, and not any
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
and nothing more
From this reading They were the only thing worth looking for.
OntarionounUS /ɑːnˈterioʊ/
the smallest of the Great Lakes
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
a special situation
From this reading They were the only thing worth looking for.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Horace had found diamonds, it is true, but they had been found miles apart, one at a time, in the river gravel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were the only thing worth looking for.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This is not the natural home of diamonds, which are always found native to the peculiar formation known in South Africa as "blue clay."
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Nearly the whole winter was before them, but it was none too long a time to consider their plans.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading They were the only thing worth looking for.
but in spite of that
From this reading Nobody had ever found a trace of blue clay in Ontario, yet Horace felt certain that the blue-clay beds must exist.
