used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
accidentaladjectiveUS /ˌæksəˈdentəl/
happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
(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 When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
any thing at all
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Indeed, it was only begun.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
COMMISSARYnounUS /ˈkɑːməseri/
a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
crackersadjectiveUS /ˈkrækərz/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
divisible by two
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
grimyadjectiveUS /ˈɡraɪmi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
a single distinct event
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, it was only begun.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Indeed, it was only begun.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
MarianadjectiveUS /ˈmeriən/
of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
not any; not one
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
and nothing more
From this reading Indeed, it was only begun.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
Pearson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
perishedverbUS /ˈperɪʃt/
past form of “perish” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
SmugglersnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlərz/
plural of “smuggler” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
swampedverbUS /swɔːmpt/
past form of “swamp” — drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading Perhaps Mr. Pearson had been swamped and drowned.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
tomatoesnounUS /təˈmeɪtoʊz/
plural of “tomato” — mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading COMMISSARY MATTERS But for Marian in the midst of her hungry, grimy little flock the incident was far from closed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading No one, not even her parents, knew anything about Smugglers’ Island, and probably they were thought to have perished in the storm.
at the time that
From this reading When their food was all gone but the can of tomatoes and a part of the crackers, she made up her mind that nothing but accidental help could be looked for.
