used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
in a state of sleep
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
carefully weighed
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
let fall to the ground
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
flownverbUS /floʊn/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
destroyed or killed
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
high-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
JupiternounUS /ˈdʒuːpətər/
the largest planet and the 5th from the sun; has many satellites and is one of the brightest objects in the night sky
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
methodicaladjectiveUS /məˈθɑːdəkəl/
characterized by method and orderliness
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
parchmentnounUS /ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt/
A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used for writing.
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
scarabæus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
seizingnounUS /ˈsiːzɪŋ/
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
carry out
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
in the direction of
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon my taking hold of it, it gave me a sharp bite, which caused me to let it drop.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
at the time that
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
in or at the place that
From this reading The spot where we discovered the _scarabæus_ was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile eastward of the island, and but a short distance above high-water mark.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my possession.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jupiter, with his accustomed caution, before seizing the insect, which had flown towards him, looked about him for a leaf, or something of that nature, by which to take hold of it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "When you had gone, and when Jupiter was fast asleep, I betook myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair.
