used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
absorbingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
anew
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
ancientsnounUS /ˈeɪntʃənts/
people who lived in times long past (especially during the historical period before the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe)
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
ClumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
-ing form of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
divisible by two
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
Ewbanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
set up or found
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
HydraulicsnounUS /haɪˈdrɔːlɪks/
study of the mechanics of fluids
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
principallyadverbUS /ˈprɪnsɪpli/
for the most part
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
on the contrary
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
an educational institution
From this reading Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the school library.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WATER WHEEL.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a book describing machines of the ancients--principally devices for raising water.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading THE WATER WHEEL.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Rather dry reading, I thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly interesting.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading THE WATER WHEEL.
WillownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new ideas.
