used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
breakfast-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
chronometernoun
an accurate clock (especially used in navigation)
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
ClimbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
conenounUS /koʊn/
any cone-shaped artifact
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
consultedverbUS /kənˈsʌltəd/
past form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
craternounUS /ˈkreɪtər/
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/
a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
Gideon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
on one occasion
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
Pencroft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
reporternounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtər/
a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
sea-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
Spilett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They now began the descent of the mountain.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
watchesnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃəz/
plural of “watch” — a small portable timepiece
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading That of Gideon Spilett had been preserved from the sea-water, as he had been thrown at once on the sand out of reach of the waves.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Climbing down the crater, they went round the cone and reached their encampment of the previous night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Pencroft thought it must be breakfast-time, and the watches of the reporter and engineer were therefore consulted to find out the hour.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was an instrument of excellent quality, a perfect pocket chronometer, which the reporter had not forgotten to wind up carefully every day.
