used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
broad-bearded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
broad-chested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
DesolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
obtain
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
molassesnounUS /məˈlæsəz/
thick dark syrup produced by boiling down juice from sugar cane; especially during sugar refining
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
nosesnounUS /ˈnoʊzɪz/
plural of “nose” — the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Our noses told us this.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
ordinarilyadverbUS /ˌɔːrdəˈnerəli/
under normal conditions
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
rumnounUS /rʌm/
liquor distilled from fermented molasses
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
sanctionnounUS /ˈsæŋkʃən/
formal and explicit approval
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
savours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
ship-captain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
signifiednounUS /ˈsɪɡnəfaɪd/
the meaning of a word or expression; the way in which a word or expression or situation can be interpreted
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
tangnounUS /tæŋ/
a tart spicy quality
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
tarnounUS /tɑːr/
any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
timbersnounUS /ˈtɪmbərz/
plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Our noses told us this.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
vantagenounUS /ˈvæntədʒ/
place or situation affording some advantage (especially a comprehensive view or commanding perspective)
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
Waldron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading With this sanction we pushed along the crowded deck in order to gain a post of vantage at the bow.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To the savours of fish and tar which clung in her timbers she added a foreign tang of molasses, rum, and coffee.
belonging to which person
From this reading The vessel, whose hold was now to be our new and narrow cage, was one of those ordinarily engaged in the West Indian trade.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The Hour of her Desolation Returning from a brief word with the ship-captain,—a very broad-bearded, broad-chested man, in a very rough blue coat,—Lieutenant Waldron passed us hastily, and signified that it was all right.
