used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
for the reason that
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
put or send forth
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
currentsnounUS /ˈkɜːrənts/
plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
dangersnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
the first light of day
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
HawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
IllinoisnounUS /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/
a midwestern state in north-central United States
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
and nothing more
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
MadridnounUS /məˈdrɪd/
the capital and largest city situated centrally in Spain; home of an outstanding art museum
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
most important element
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
medicinenounUS /ˈmedəsən/
the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
MinnesotanounUS /ˌmɪnɪˈsoʊtə/
a midwestern state
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
MissourinounUS /məˈzʊri/
a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
navigationnounUS /ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən/
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
not one, and not any
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
OhionounUS /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
and nothing more
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
pilotsnounUS /ˈpaɪləts/
plural of “pilot” — someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
sandbars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
snagsnounUS /snæɡz/
plural of “snag” — a sharp protuberance
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
steamboating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Hundreds of boats, large and small, ran on the main stream, on the Ohio, the Missouri, the Illinois, the Minnesota and other rivers of the great Mississippi basin.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The steamer _Grey Hawk_ cast off from the New Madrid landing at dawn of day.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
tributariesnounUS /ˈtrɪbjəteriz/
plural of “tributary” — a branch that flows into the main stream
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The average life time of a Mississippi steamer was only five years, because countless snags, ice, fires, and other dangers were the bad medicine to navigation on all the streams.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
belonging to which person
From this reading None of them were improved, none had any system of lights or signs; the pilots had to know the rivers, whose currents and sandbars and snags were constantly shifting.
a late time of life
From this reading The years just preceding the Civil War and the years of the war were the great days of steamboating on the Mississippi and its tributaries.
