used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading The terms were agreed to.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
ConounUS /koʊ/
an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
EdisonnounUS /ˈedɪsən/
United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
a boy or man
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
LakesnounUS /leɪks/
plural of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
largestadjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəst/
superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
newsboynoun
a boy who delivers newspapers
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
express the need or desire for
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
Ridgeway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
steamboatsnounUS /ˈstiːmboʊts/
plural of “steamboat” — a boat propelled by a steam engine
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading The terms were agreed to.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
create by training and teaching
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading This captain had retired, taken up some lumber land, and had cleared part of it.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The terms were agreed to.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Edison was a newsboy on the train a request came to him one day to go to the office of E. B. Ward & Co., at that time the largest owners of steamboats on the Great Lakes.
which person or people
From this reading The captain of their largest boat had died suddenly, and they wanted a message taken to another captain who lived about fourteen miles from Ridgeway station on the railroad.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Edison was offered fifteen dollars by Mr. Ward to go and fetch him, but as it was a wild country and would be dark, Edison stood out for twenty-five dollars, so that he could get the companionship of another lad.
