used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
MISFORTUNEnounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
sectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
move hurridly
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
express a supposition
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “They are harmless, but I suppose this one must be an old one, and a sort of king of this section of the river.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very likely he didn’t like our boat to disturb his feeding ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
weighverbUS /weɪ/
have a certain weight
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I hadn’t any idea they were so large,” said Ned.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A MISFORTUNE Jerry started the engine, and, at slow speed, put the boat close over to the big creature, which was now quite dead.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “As I told you before, they sometimes weigh nearly a thousand pounds,” the professor said.
