used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Sam was the most cheerful person on board.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Sam was the most cheerful person on board.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
cranniesnounUS /ˈkræniz/
plural of “cranny” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
disconsolateadjective
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
discouragedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɜːrədʒd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
downheartedadjective
filled with melancholy and despondency
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
fleetsnounUS /fliːts/
plural of “fleet” — group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Sam was the most cheerful person on board.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
nooksnounUS /nʊks/
plural of “nook” — a sheltered and secluded place
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
a human being
From this reading Sam was the most cheerful person on board.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading Sam was the most cheerful person on board.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus far they had not seen a sign of a boat.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
precisely as stated
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sam was the most cheerful person on board.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The four boys and their negro companion were becoming very downhearted.
at the time that
From this reading IN SEARCH OF LAND When next the sun rose it shone upon a very disconsolate and discouraged little band.
world-wideadjective
involving the entire earth; not limited or provincial in scope
From this reading It almost seemed as if they were on a desert ocean, for in these days of world-wide commerce there are few nooks and crannies of the seven seas not visited by the merchant fleets.
