used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
accostedverbUS /əˈkɑːstɪd/
past form of “accost” — speak to someone
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
confined by bonds
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
breakwaternounUS /ˈbreɪkwɔːtər/
a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
cargoesnounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊz/
plural of “cargo” — goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
clipper-built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
DozensnounUS /ˈdʌzənz/
a large number or amount
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
divisible by two
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
foretellverbUS /fɔːrˈtel/
foreshadow or presage
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
harborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
of the present time and place
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
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 Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
MaritimesnounUS /ˈmerətaɪmz/
the collective name for the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
MarseillesnounUS /mɑːrˈsaɪləs/
a port city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
Méssagéries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
not any; not one
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
ocean-liners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
periodicallyadverbUS /ˌpiːriˈɑːdɪkəli/
in a sporadic manner
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
predominatedverbUS /prɪˈdɑːməneɪtɪd/
past form of “predominate” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
prophetnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
an authoritative person who divines the future
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
the possibility of future success
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
rowsnounUS /roʊz/
plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
râde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
seaportnounUS /ˈsiːpɔːrt/
a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
transport commercially
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
steamersnounUS /ˈstiːmərz/
plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
strikesnounUS /straɪks/
plural of “strike” — a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading One of the strikes that periodically tie up the seaport of southern France was at its height.
V-shapedadjective
shaped in the form of the letter V
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
(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 It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was well for my immediate peace of mind that no prophet accosted me on my way down to the harbor next morning, to foretell the hungry days that were to be my portion in Marseilles.
wharves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
a Caucasian
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dozens of sailing vessels rode at anchor in the little “Old Harbor”; the _râde_ behind the great V-shaped breakwater was crowded with shipping; at the wharves were moored long rows of ocean-liners, among which the white, clipper-built steamers of the Méssagéries Maritimes predominated, their cargoes rotting in their holds.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading On this November morning, a blind man must have known, from the silence of the port, that there was small prospect even of finding work ashore.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In a season of customary activity it would have been easy to “sign on” some ship eastward bound.
