used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
breastworknoun
fortification consisting of a low wall
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
start firing a weapon
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
death of a person
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
lubber's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
mantletnoun
portable bulletproof shelter
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
not in physical motion
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
one of four equal parts
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
make square
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
having a supporting base
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
dependable
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading I was on a platform some ten feet square, but the lubber’s holes reduced the standing room by nearly a quarter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Then I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The after side of the top was protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a low breastwork.
zipverbUS /zɪp/
close with a zipper
From this reading For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position.
