used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS AND WORK.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
(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 If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS AND WORK.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
appointverbUS /əˈpɔɪnt/
create and charge with a task or function
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
benchesnounUS /ˈbentʃɪz/
plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
Brookbine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
carpenternounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntər/
a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
committeenounUS /kəˈmɪti/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
Gildrock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
the act of departing
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
machinistsnounUS /məˈʃiːnɪsts/
plural of “machinist” — a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
partitionnounUS /pɑːrˈtɪʃən/
a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
do one's shopping
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/
plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS AND WORK.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading Mr. Brookbine suspended his instructions, and seated himself on one of the benches.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
a special situation
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
TOOLSnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS AND WORK.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “We must have a partition between the two shops,” added Captain Gildrock.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Shall we appoint a committee to ascertain what is going on at the other end of the shop, or shall we all go over and see for ourselves?” said the carpenter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading SOMETHING ABOUT TOOLS AND WORK.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading If there was any thing funny, the boys all wanted to know what it was; and some of them were inclined to run over to ascertain why the young machinists were laughing.
