used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
appearancesnounUS /əˈpɪrənsəz/
plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
a movement into or inward
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
fanciesnounUS /ˈfænsiz/
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
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 But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
meridiannounUS /mərˈɪdiən/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
realitiesnounUS /ˌriːˈælətiːz/
plural of “reality” — all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading About three hours after the sun had passed the meridian, they arrived at a place that resembled a small island in the midst of an ocean.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For the first two or three hours after entering amid such scenes, they could not help feeling interested.
unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
a vivid mental image
From this reading In time, however, the interest died away as their vision became accustomed to the strange appearances.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But along with these fair fancies there were many unpleasant realities.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
but in spite of that
From this reading One yet awaited them, stranger and more extraordinary than any yet witnessed.
