used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
datingnounUS /ˈdeɪtɪŋ/
use of chemical analysis to estimate the age of geological specimens
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
engine-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
escortedverbUS /eˈskɔːrtɪd/
past form of “escort” — accompany as an escort
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading “THIS IS THE FINISH.”
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
set up or found
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
innateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈneɪt/
not established by conditioning or learning
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “THIS IS THE FINISH.”
a small worthless amount
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
Medway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
ministeringverbUS /ˈmɪnɪstrɪŋ/
-ing form of “minister” — attend to the wants and needs of others
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
oilingverbUS /ˈɔɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “oil” — cover with oil, as if by rubbing
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
by chance
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
an amount of time
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Their innate love of machinery found full play during the following days and nights.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
prophesiedverbUS /ˈprɑːfəsaɪd/
inflected form of “prophesy” — predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
strangestadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪndʒɪst/
superlative of “strange” — being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “THIS IS THE FINISH.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “THIS IS THE FINISH.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Jack had prophesied, they did have to “hold down the job for some time.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
ValkyrienounUS /ˌvælˈkiːriːə/
(Norse mythology) one of the maidens of Odin who chose heroes to be slain in battle and conducted them to Valhalla
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
VirtuallyadverbUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːəli/
in essence or effect but not in fact
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In fact, dating from the morning on which Medway escorted them to the engine-room of the _Valkyrie_, the two boys entered on what was perhaps the strangest period of their lives in many respects.
but in spite of that
From this reading Virtually prisoners, they yet found a certain pleasure in oiling, running and ministering to the big engine.
