used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
(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 It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
bagsnounUS /bæɡz/
plural of “bag” — a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
barleynounUS /ˈbɑːrli/
a grain of barley
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
the two together, not just one
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading There was no cold weather, no winter.
unvarying in nature
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
EARTHQUAKEnounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
set up or found
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
HURRICANEnounUS /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
and nothing more
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no cold weather, no winter.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
on one occasion
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
go across or through
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
ricenounUS /raɪs/
grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
ROBINSONnounUS /ˈrɑːbənsən/
English chemist noted for his studies of molecular structures in plants (1886-1975)
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
seasonsnounUS /ˈsiːzənz/
plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
the season of growth
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
precisely as stated
From this reading So he was very much astonished to find, some time afterwards, both barley and rice growing near his tent, in the shade of the rock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no cold weather, no winter.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading There was no cold weather, no winter.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
at the time that
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It chanced that just before this first rain began, Robinson had emptied out some refuse from bags which had once held rice, and other grain, and he had forgotten all about having emptied them.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading He found that instead of there being Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, as in England, the seasons in his island were divided into the wet and the dry.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE EARTHQUAKE AND HURRICANE; AND HOW ROBINSON BUILT A BOAT Now about this time, when Robinson had been some months on the island, heavy and constant rain began to fall, and sometimes weeks would pass without a single dry day.
