used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
Alton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
Boyton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading His reception in St. Louis was something extraordinary.
a social unit living together
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
established beyond doubt
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading His reception in St. Louis was something extraordinary.
reportersnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “reporter” — a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading His reception in St. Louis was something extraordinary.
spendingnounUS /ˈspendɪŋ/
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
moving very fast
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
in or at that place or location
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
thermometernounUS /θərˈmɑːmətər/
measuring instrument for measuring temperature
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading A boat containing newspaper reporters was to accompany him down; but the weather proved too cold for them and they abandoned him after a few miles.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While there the swift current of the Mississippi, which was then flowing with ice, tempted him and he made a voyage from Alton to St. Louis, about twenty-five miles.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After spending a few weeks with his family, Captain Boyton received an invitation to visit a friend in St. Louis.
zeroadjectiveUS /ˈzɪroʊ/
indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
From this reading The thermometer was below zero, and a man was frozen to death that morning in a wagon at Alton.
