used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
anew
From this reading AGAIN ON THE ISLAND.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
footmarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading AGAIN ON THE ISLAND.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
MalaysnounUS /məˈleɪz/
plural of “malay” — a member of a people inhabiting the northern Malay Peninsula and Malaysia and parts of the western Malay Archipelago
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AGAIN ON THE ISLAND.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
carry out
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AGAIN ON THE ISLAND.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
three-quartersnounUS /ˌθriːˈkwɔːrtərz/
three of four equal parts
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Though I don’t know much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other savages.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
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 “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,” Stephen said.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an hour they reached the edge of the wood.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “They are sure to think that you have made for the coast, and they will not be long in finding our footmarks.
