used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
react verbally
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
buildersnounUS /ˈbɪldərz/
plural of “builder” — a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
canoe-builders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
canoeists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
CommodorenounUS /ˈkɑːmədɔːr/
a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral
From this reading So they went to the Commodore and told him their difficulty.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So they went to the Commodore and told him their difficulty.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
and nothing more
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
rigverbUS /rɪɡ/
arrange the outcome of by means of deceit
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
riggedadjectiveUS /rɪɡd/
fitted or equipped with necessary rigging (sails and shrouds and stays etc)
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So they went to the Commodore and told him their difficulty.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So they went to the Commodore and told him their difficulty.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading So they went to the Commodore and told him their difficulty.
a source of difficulty
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading It had never occurred to the boys that there was more than one rig used on canoes, and of course they did not know how to answer the builders’ question.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So they went to the Commodore and told him their difficulty.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
at the time that
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
wishingnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/
a specific feeling of desire
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading The canoe-builders wrote to them wishing to know how they would have the canoes rigged.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I might do,” said he, “just as I did when I told you to go and ask four different canoeists which is the best canoe; but I won’t put you to that trouble.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was some time before the canoes were ready, and in the mean time the young canoeists met with a new difficulty.
