used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
eagerly desirous
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
continentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
JeffersonnounUS /ˈdʒefərsən/
3rd President of the United States; chief drafter of the Declaration of Independence; made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and sent out the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore it (1743-1826)
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
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 It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
the force of workers available
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
office-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
the act of departing politely
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
schoolboynounUS /ˈskuːlbɔɪ/
a boy attending school
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/
the first light of day
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
todaynounUS /təˈdeɪ/
the present time or age
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
which person or people
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
