used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The equinoctial gales had been protracted and severe.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
balmyadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːmi/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
cause to be bored
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
lacking funds
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
busieradjectiveUS /ˈbɪziər/
comparative of “busy” — actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
equinoctialadjective
relating to the vicinity of the equator
From this reading The equinoctial gales had been protracted and severe.
divisible by two
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
at any time
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
fiercenessnoun
the property of being wild or turbulent
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
galesnounUS /ɡeɪlz/
plural of “gale” — a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading The equinoctial gales had been protracted and severe.
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The equinoctial gales had been protracted and severe.
harbingersnounUS /ˈhɑːrbɪŋərz/
plural of “harbinger” — something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
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 For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
loosenedadjectiveUS /ˈluːsənd/
straightened out
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
march in a procession
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
the middle of the day
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
protractedadjectiveUS /proʊˈtræktɪd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The equinoctial gales had been protracted and severe.
Rathlin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
rollersnounUS /ˈroʊlərz/
plural of “roller” — a grounder that rolls along the infield
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
sea-wrack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
separatesnounUS /ˈsepəreɪts/
plural of “separate” — a separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading The equinoctial gales had been protracted and severe.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
the season of growth
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
straitnounUS /streɪt/
a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
thunderingadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərɪŋ/
sounding like thunder
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading Elsie and Jim had been busy ever since the return of the tide, about noon, dragging to shore the masses of sea-wrack that the recent storms had loosened and sent adrift.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
TornounUS /tɔːr/
a prominent rock or pile of rocks on a hill
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
at the time that
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The night had been wild and dark, but it was succeeded by one of those balmy days that are sent as harbingers of coming summer.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading For days the sea off Fair Head, and through the strait that separates the mainland from Rathlin Island, had run mountains high; and now, though the surface was smooth and glistening in the bright spring sun, the long, heavy swell, as it broke in thundering rollers on the shore, bore witness to the fierceness of the recent conflict.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was the end of March, when an event occurred which would have been a more than nine days' wonder even in a busier spot than Tor Bay.
