used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
in the past
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
any thing at all
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading There strayed into this neighborhood a couple of canoes.
captainsnounUS /ˈkæptənz/
plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
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 They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading There strayed into this neighborhood a couple of canoes.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
at any time
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
to an extreme degree
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
FISHINGnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
flourishesnounUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃəz/
plural of “flourish” — a showy gesture
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
genialitynounUS /ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/
a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There strayed into this neighborhood a couple of canoes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
lichennounUS /ˈlaɪkən/
any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading There strayed into this neighborhood a couple of canoes.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
and nothing more
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
saltsnounUS /sɔːlts/
plural of “salt” — a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
skepticallyadverbUS /ˈskeptɪkəli/
with scepticism; in a sceptical manner
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
strayedverbUS /streɪd/
past form of “stray” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading There strayed into this neighborhood a couple of canoes.
express in words
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
temperedadjectiveUS /ˈtempərd/
made hard or flexible or resilient especially by heat treatment
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There strayed into this neighborhood a couple of canoes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
viewingnounUS /ˈvjuːɪŋ/
the display of a motion picture
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
Waal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading “Waal,” exclaimed one of the old salts, viewing this water craft skeptically, “it’s the nearest next to nothing of anything I have ever heard tell on.”
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading The only genial element about this barren spot was its sea captains, and whence they drew their geniality heaven only knows.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They made me think of nothing so much as of the warm lichen which sometimes flourishes upon cold rocks.
a late time of life
From this reading THE CANOE AND FISHING It was my somewhat tempered good fortune, several years ago, to spend two or three weeks in an exceedingly bleak place on a far northern coast.
