used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
beech-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
cerealnounUS /ˈsɪriəl/
grass whose starchy grains are used as food: wheat; rice; rye; oats; maize; buckwheat; millet
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
many times at short intervals
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
brought together in one place
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
mastnounUS /mæst/
a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
necessitiesnounUS /nəˈsesɪtiz/
plural of “necessity” — the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
roastedadjectiveUS /ˈroʊstəd/
(meat) cooked by dry heat in an oven
From this reading We had gathered the mast from the beech-tree and roasted it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
substituteverbUS /ˈsʌbstətuːt/
put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "`Now,' said I, `we shall have bread!'
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading During the preceding days we had frequently talked upon this subject--the want of bread--which is one of our first necessities.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading "This was a glad sight to my wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We had lived in hope that we should find some species of cereal in the valley that would supply us with a substitute for bread; but up to that time nothing of the kind had appeared.
