used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
in addition
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
Ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Ay, ay, sir,' Jack sang out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
brignounUS /brɪɡ/
two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Stand by to stow the royal.'
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
clewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
crosstrees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
DANGERSnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
ForenounUS /fɔːr/
front part of a vessel or aircraft
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
a person of German nationality
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
hove-to
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
a small worthless amount
From this reading 'Ay, ay, sir,' Jack sang out.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading 'Ay, ay, sir,' Jack sang out.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Stand by to stow the royal.'
royalsnounUS /ˈrɔɪəlz/
plural of “royal” — a sail set next above the topgallant on a royal mast
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading 'Ay, ay, sir,' Jack sang out.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
transport commercially
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
shortenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtənd/
cut short
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
term of address for a man
From this reading 'Ay, ay, sir,' Jack sang out.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Stand by to stow the royal.'
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
stowverbUS /stoʊ/
fill by packing tightly
From this reading Stand by to stow the royal.'
STRAITnounUS /streɪt/
a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
studding-sails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stand by to stow the royal.'
topgallantnoun
a sail set on a yard of a topgallant mast
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
TORRES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DANGERS OF TORRES STRAIT 'Fore crosstrees, there!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The big German ship was abandoned, and must have been ashore several days.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
windwardnounUS /ˈwɪndwərd/
the direction from which the wind is coming
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading Within a few minutes the starboard studding-sails fluttered to the deck, and the topgallant sails and royals were clewed up, while coming up astern the brig also shortened sail, and cautiously approaching the wreck both vessels hove-to half a mile to windward.
