used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
calculateverbUS /ˈkælkjəleɪt/
make a mathematical calculation or computation
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
Clif
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
HAILverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
lookouts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
the force of workers available
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
not any; not one
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
with speed
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
carry out
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Two of the men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
which person or people
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was before them.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of running ashore or getting lost.
