used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
boat'snounUS /boʊts/
possessive form of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
being one more than seven
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
half-learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
moment'snounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
oncomingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːnkʌmɪŋ/
moving toward one
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
SIMONnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/
one of the twelve Apostles (first century)
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
in or at that place or location
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading Thinking entirely of how to hide his treasure, he had forgotten to invent a story to account for his presence on the island.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading SIMON STOCK He made for the beach and stood there waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwestwərd/
toward the west
From this reading The rocks to westward cut off his view of the oncoming boat and he had time for a moment’s thought.
white-painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late now, for here came the boat’s nose round the western rocks, a large, white-painted boat, flashing eight oars in the sun.
which person or people
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He felt like an actor who had to appear on the stage with a half-learned part.
