used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
in the past
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
boatingnounUS /ˈboʊtɪŋ/
water travel for pleasure
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
care-free
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading We were very fond of each other and inseparable.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading We were very fond of each other and inseparable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
HERMITnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE WOODS.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
inseparableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsepərəbəl/
not capable of being separated
From this reading We were very fond of each other and inseparable.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
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 "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE WOODS.
many times at short intervals
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
a male human offspring
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE WOODS.
precisely as stated
From this reading We were very fond of each other and inseparable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were very fond of each other and inseparable.
well-to-doadjective
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Our home was on the Long Island coast and we often went boating.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were very fond of each other and inseparable.
which person or people
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE HERMIT OF THE WOODS.
a late time of life
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "My name is Peter Bell," began the old man, "and many years ago I was like any other happy, care-free young man, who is the son of well-to-do parents.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading I had a brother named James Bell, who was much younger than me.
