used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
(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 Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
at or in or to any place
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
ArnoldnounUS /ˈɑːrnəld/
English poet and literary critic (1822-1888)
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
bathedverbUS /beɪðd/
past form of “bathe” — cleanse the entire body
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
an old word for “before”
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
set up or found
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
loopsnounUS /luːps/
plural of “loop” — fastener consisting of a metal ring for lining a small hole to permit the attachment of cords or lines
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
information about recent and important events
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
squatternounUS /ˈskwɑːtər/
someone who settles lawfully on government land with the intent to acquire title to it
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
not in physical motion
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
express in words
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There they found a substantial meal spread for them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Ere they all sat down to it, some of their number took a look out through the loops on all four sides of the house.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The lake was still bathed in moonlight, and not an Indian canoe or raft was to be seen anywhere.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Sergeant Dick did not notice the startled, anxious glance that old Arnold gave him as they went back to the living-room.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
you've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, now, sergeant, what’s this astonishing news that you’ve got to tell us?” asked the old squatter, with his mouth full.
