used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading They were veritable floating palaces, and were the admiration of all.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They were veritable floating palaces, and were the admiration of all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND ESCAPE FROM BRUIN.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
BRUINnounUS /ˈbruːɪn/
a conventional name for a bear used in tales following usage in the old epic “Reynard the Fox”
From this reading MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND ESCAPE FROM BRUIN.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
enactedverbUS /eˈnæktəd/
past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND ESCAPE FROM BRUIN.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading They were veritable floating palaces, and were the admiration of all.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND ESCAPE FROM BRUIN.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
IDENTITYnounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/
the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND ESCAPE FROM BRUIN.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND ESCAPE FROM BRUIN.
MobileadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊbəl/
migratory
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
MontgomerynounUS /mɑːntˈɡʌmri/
Canadian novelist (1874-1942)
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
palacesnounUS /ˈpæləsəz/
plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion
From this reading They were veritable floating palaces, and were the admiration of all.
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
plentifuladjectiveUS /ˈplentəfəl/
existing in great number or quantity
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
plowedadjectiveUS /plaʊd/
(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
RailroadsnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊdz/
plural of “railroad” — line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
steamersnounUS /ˈstiːmərz/
plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were veritable floating palaces, and were the admiration of all.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
tiresnounUS /ˈtaɪərz/
plural of “tire” — hoop that covers a wheel
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
veritableadjectiveUS /ˈverɪtəbəl/
often used as intensifiers
From this reading They were veritable floating palaces, and were the admiration of all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Railroads were not as fashionable and plentiful as now, and had not driven the boats from the river, on which was a magnificent line of steamers which plowed the waters from Mobile to Montgomery.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
whiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was whiling away the weary hours in jail another scene was being enacted at the plantation.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading The writer of this, though in middle life, never tires looking at a fine steamer or train of cars.
