used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
Barnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
BEINGauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But now it was otherwise.
and nothing more
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
for more time
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
mastnounUS /mæst/
a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
not any; not one
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now it was otherwise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
in other respects or ways
From this reading But now it was otherwise.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
talismannounUS /ˈtæl.ɪz.mən/
An object, such as an inscribed ring or stone, thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
precisely as stated
From this reading BEING I Barnes Common seemed a very large place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Weeks and months together he had just kept on keeping on while he had sailed the terrible seas.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading At that time there was no magic talisman to hold him to his course, there was neither hope nor faith of the world to be.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
a late time of life
From this reading The Sailor was afraid he would not be able to keep on much longer, but he had learned endurance in his six years before the mast.
