used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
chaffing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
cruiseverbUS /kruːz/
drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
the first light of day
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
divisible by two
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
farewellsnounUS /ˌferˈwelz/
plural of “farewell” — an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
flagnounUS /flæɡ/
emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
a young female
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
the act of departing
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
Indiamannoun
a large sailing ship that was engaged in the British trade with India
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
and nothing more
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
ladingnounUS /ˈleɪdɪŋ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
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 Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
the force of workers available
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
portsnounUS /pɔːrts/
plural of “port” — a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
preliminariesnounUS /prɪˈlɪməneriz/
plural of “preliminary” — a minor match preceding the main event
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had come in about midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
move an implement through
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
swearingnounUS /ˈswerɪŋ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
venturesnounUS /ˈventʃərz/
plural of “venture” — any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
VesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
whalernounUS /ˈweɪlər/
a seaman who works on a ship that hunts whales
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading THE LITTLE GIRL Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir.
a Caucasian
From this reading White and black men were running to and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each other.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag as well as that of her country.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out farewells.
