used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
anew
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
in addition
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
defendverbUS /dɪˈfend/
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
take in solid food
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
hagglingnounUS /ˈhæɡəlɪŋ/
an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining)
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
ten 10s
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
mastnounUS /mæst/
a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
on one occasion
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
oneself
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
and nothing more
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
shoveverbUS /ʃʌv/
come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
be seated
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
switchesnounUS /ˈswɪtʃəz/
plural of “switch” — control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
tavernnounUS /ˈtævərn/
a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
toilverbUS /tɔɪl/
work hard
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
at the time that
From this reading But when he had sailed off and was out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And the storm at once began again, and finally he was again driven to a land in which he had never been.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Only with toil and trouble could one manage to shove a bite of something into one's mouth once in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against the rats.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received two hundred dollars for her, and that without any haggling.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the table was also covered with switches; but every switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as a small broom, and the people told him that they knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand.
