used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TERRIBLE APPARITION.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They soon had an immense pile handy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
APPARITIONnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃən/
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading A TERRIBLE APPARITION.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Quambo and Magilvray were not so idle.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
fatiguesnounUS /fəˈtiːɡz/
military uniform worn by military personnel when doing menial labor
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
firewoodnounUS /ˈfaɪərwʊd/
wood used for fuel
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
handyadjectiveUS /ˈhændi/
easy to reach
From this reading They soon had an immense pile handy.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
only a very short time before
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
not in action or at work
From this reading But Quambo and Magilvray were not so idle.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading They soon had an immense pile handy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
junglenounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
Magilvray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Quambo and Magilvray were not so idle.
manualnounUS /ˈmænjuːəl/
a small handbook
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading They soon had an immense pile handy.
Quambo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Quambo and Magilvray were not so idle.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But Quambo and Magilvray were not so idle.
in the near future
From this reading They soon had an immense pile handy.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading A TERRIBLE APPARITION.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were busy cutting down the dead branches in the jungle, and bearing them to the beach to serve as firewood.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
migratory
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But Quambo and Magilvray were not so idle.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
but in spite of that
From this reading They spent the afternoon dreamily wandering about in the woods or on the beach; for Fred and Frank, not being used to real hard manual labour, had hardly yet got over the fatigues of the day before.
