used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
AmidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
any thing at all
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
demeanornounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
drawledverbUS /drɔːld/
past form of “drawl” — lengthen and slow down or draw out
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There it was, and that was enough for him.
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There it was, and that was enough for him.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
the act of departing
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There it was, and that was enough for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
inspectorsnounUS /ˌɪnˈspektərz/
plural of “inspector” — a high ranking police officer
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
licensenounUS /ˈlaɪsəns/
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
in motion
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
Poly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
on the contrary
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
Ripley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
Roly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There it was, and that was enough for him.
a special situation
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
TownsendnounUS /ˈtaʊnzənd/
United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PLANS It was quite characteristic of Townsend Ripley that he did not ask Roly Poly anything about his extraordinary adventure.
waterwaynounUS /ˈwɔːtərweɪ/
a navigable body of water
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
whimsicaladjectiveUS /ˈwɪmzɪkəl/
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
From this reading Amid the chorus of exclamations and inquiries he preserved a quiet, whimsical demeanor, glancing about as if rather interested in this desert island.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "First thing you know you'll have the inland waterway inspectors after you.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If this island is going to keep moving you'll have to put a license plate on it, Roly," he drawled.
