used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
beachedverbUS /biːtʃt/
past form of “beach” — land on a beach
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Things had changed, however, in that country.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Things had changed, however, in that country.
devicenounUS /dɪˈvaɪs/
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
differedverbUS /ˈdɪfərd/
past form of “differ” — be different
From this reading It differed in shape.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
fanciesnounUS /ˈfænsiz/
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Things had changed, however, in that country.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Things had changed, however, in that country.
not in action or at work
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
lectureverbUS /ˈlektʃər/
deliver a lecture or talk
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
a particular point in time
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
a course of conduct
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
picnicsnounUS /ˈpɪknɪks/
plural of “picnic” — a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
cut with a saw
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
schoolsnounUS /skuːlz/
plural of “school” — an educational institution
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading It differed in shape.
shinglenounUS /ˈʃɪŋɡəl/
building material used as siding or roofing
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/
past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Things had changed, however, in that country.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Things had changed, however, in that country.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
at the time that
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever he sat down to read, when he sprawled on the grass at river picnics, in chapel, in lecture--in short, at any moment when his body was at rest and his mind at leisure--his fancies were off on the same old path.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The boyish device of a hard road running over the waters had gone, and now it was invariably a boat which he saw beached on the shingle.
a late time of life
From this reading He was idle, too, during these years as far as his "schools" were concerned, but he was always very intent upon his own private business.
