used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
corn-bin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
labours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
leave-takings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
engage in
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
oystershells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
ponderousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərəs/
slow and laborious because of weight
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
sea-weed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
STUDIOnounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading THE STUDIO.
carry out
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STUDIO.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading An early day had been fixed for his arrival; for I thought it might be of service to him to be introduced to the field of his labours.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
WeirnounUS /wiːr/
a low dam built across a stream to raise its level or divert its flow
From this reading Weir, as I had expected, was quite pleased to make the exchange.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
which person or people
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will not linger over our preparations or our leave-takings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The most ponderous of the former were those of the two boys, who, as they had wanted to bring down a chest as big as a corn-bin, full of lumber, now wanted to take home two or three boxes filled with pebbles, great oystershells, and sea-weed.
