used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
anew
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
curvingadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrvɪŋ/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
a long fixed look
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
not accessible to view
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Let us keep watch."
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Let us keep watch."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
engage in
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
the force of workers available
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
a particular point in time
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
go across or through
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
propulsionnounUS /prəˈpʌlʃən/
a propelling force
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
in the near future
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
Starland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Let us keep watch."
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
look attentively
From this reading "Let us keep watch."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
belonging to which person
From this reading The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
