used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
anew
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
intentionally conceived
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
CornishnounUS /ˈkɔːrnɪʃ/
a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
the first light of day
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
set up or found
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
unflinching in battle or action
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
hatchwaynoun
an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
hen-coop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
on one occasion
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
unusual or striking
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
sandsnounUS /sændz/
the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
only a very short time before
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
transport commercially
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
sparverbUS /spɑːr/
furnish with spars
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Further on he stumbled over a hen-coop, and then again a fragment that looked like the cover of a hatchway.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He found himself examining a broken spar upon which he had struck his foot.
vessel'snounUS /ˈvesəlz/
possessive form of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Almost every tide washed up something that had once been part of a gallant ship.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading He had heard nothing about a vessel's having come ashore during the tempest of the morning; but there was nothing remarkable in the sudden appearing of wreckage on this wild Cornish coast.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
wreckagenounUS /ˈrekədʒ/
the remaining parts of something that has been wrecked
From this reading The first faint breath of the dawn--that sigh of light of which the air was scarcely conscious--made him aware as he walked along the sands of the fact that the beach was strewn with wreckage.
