used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
(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 The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
a youthful male person
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
gotten under control
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
one or the other of two
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
flat-bottomedadjective
having a flat bottom
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
an opening into or through something
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
house-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
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 It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
moonlitadjectiveUS /ˈmuːnlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
ownerlessadjective
having no owner
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
Phin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
projectedadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektəd/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
recedingnounUS /rɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
a slow or gradual disappearance
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
scownounUS /skaʊ/
any of various flat-bottomed boats with sloping ends
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
shutternounUS /ˈʃʌtər/
a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
the state of being asleep
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
the season of growth
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
make square
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
strandedadjectiveUS /ˈstrændɪd/
cut off or left behind
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This house contained but a single room; and beyond it, at either end, the deck of the scow projected about four feet.
very small
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
in or at the place that
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The craft on which the old man and the sleeping boy were now slowly drifting down the broad, moonlit stream, was a tiny house-boat, such as are common on all American rivers.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It was a small, flat-bottomed scow, on which was built a low house, ten feet long and six wide.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had floated down, empty and ownerless, with the high waters of the preceding spring, and had stranded and been left by the receding flood at the point where Uncle Phin discovered it some weeks before.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading At each end of the house was a door, and on each side a square hole or window, that closed with a wooden shutter.
