used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
at or in the front
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
arm'snounUS /ɑːrmz/
possessive form of “arm” — a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading We found the banks more attractive.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading We found the banks more attractive.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
put or send forth
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
charmedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrmd/
strongly attracted
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
distrustnounUS /dɪˈstrʌst/
doubt about someone's honesty
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
Eddie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
apart from; not including
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
set up or found
From this reading We found the banks more attractive.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/
unhurried and relaxed
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We found the banks more attractive.
morning'snounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
possessive form of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
and nothing more
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
with low volume
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
returnsnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
not often
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
shyest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
sweetestadjectiveUS /ˈswiːtəst/
superlative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
syllablesnounUS /ˈsɪləbəlz/
plural of “syllable” — a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
thrushnounUS /θrʌʃ/
candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading Here and there a hermit thrush--the sweetest and shyest of birds--himself unseen, charmed us with his mellow syllables.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
under normal conditions
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
in or at the place that
From this reading Eddie and I set out ahead, and having had our morning's fishing, kept pretty well to the bank where the walking was fairly good.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We felt pleasant and comfortable and paid not much attention to the stream, except where a tempting pool invited a cast or two, usually with prompt returns, though we kept only a few, smaller fish.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Men had seldom disturbed the life there, and birds sang an arm's length away, or regarded us quietly, without distrust.
