used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
accidentsnounUS /ˈæksədənts/
plural of “accident” — an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/
changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
Brobdingnagnoun
a land imagined by Jonathan Swift where everything was enormous
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
carpenternounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntər/
a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
divisible by two
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
opinion or judgment
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
feweradjectiveUS /ˈfjuːər/
(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
for more time
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
MountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
Queen'snounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
step-ladder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
up to a particular time
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The longer I stayed in Brobdingnag the fewer accidents I had, as I gradually adapted myself to the huge size of everything about me.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Mounting to the upper step of the ladder, I began reading at the top of the page, walking along to the right till I got to the end of the line.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So I went, back and forth, till I had got a little below the level of my eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading After a while, in fact, I even contrived a way so that I could read the giants’ books, although they were several times as big as I was.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading The book I wished to read was opened and put leaning against the wall, and in front of it, a kind of step-ladder, which the Queen’s carpenter had made for me, twenty-five feet high, and fifty wide.
