used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
(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 All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
awnings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
CaironounUS /ˈkaɪroʊ/
a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
canalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
companiesnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniːz/
plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
dirtiestadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrtiəst/
superlative of “dirty” — soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading How fortunate those people seemed to me!
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
GladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How fortunate those people seemed to me!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading How fortunate those people seemed to me!
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading How fortunate those people seemed to me!
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
postersnounUS /ˈpoʊstərz/
plural of “poster” — a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
cut with a saw
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading How fortunate those people seemed to me!
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
steamersnounUS /ˈstiːmərz/
plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
steamshipnounUS /ˈstiːmʃɪp/
a ship powered by one or more steam engines
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
not in physical motion
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were already on their way east, while I was still crawling slowly along the edge of the desert.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading How fortunate those people seemed to me!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
create by training and teaching
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading While I was in the train on my way to Port Said, I saw four giant steamers gliding southward through the canal, so close that I could read from my window the books in the hands of the passengers under the awnings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
workmannounUS /ˈwɜːrkmən/
an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading All through that month of February in Cairo I studied the posters of the steamship companies to learn what ships were sailing eastward; for I hoped to get work on one of them as a sailor, and continue my trip around the world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Gladly would I have exchanged places with the dirtiest workman on board.
