used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading My guard was about to strip off my shirt, when Dr. Cuthbert interposed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was at the first.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
next to; at the side of
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
cat-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
cravingnounUS /ˈkreɪvɪŋ/
an intense desire for some particular thing
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
Cuthbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
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 UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
exhibitionnounUS /ˌeksəˈbɪʃən/
the act of exhibiting
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This was at the first.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
foremastnoun
the mast nearest the bow in vessels with two or more masts
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
ten 10s
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
interposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My guard was about to strip off my shirt, when Dr. Cuthbert interposed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
LASHverbUS /læʃ/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
nine-tails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
the act of punishing
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading My guard was about to strip off my shirt, when Dr. Cuthbert interposed.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading My guard was about to strip off my shirt, when Dr. Cuthbert interposed.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
express a supposition
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
tallynounUS /ˈtæli/
a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was at the first.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER THE LASH In the early morning they led me out beside the foremast.
varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was at the first.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
at the time that
From this reading My guard was about to strip off my shirt, when Dr. Cuthbert interposed.
wieldverbUS /wiːld/
have and exercise
From this reading There were present the petty officer told off to wield the cat-o'-nine-tails, an officer to tally the strokes, Dr. Cuthbert, and my guard.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading Before the punishment had begun, half a hundred of the crew had assembled to witness it, drawn I suppose by varying motives of curiosity, pity, or craving for the exhibition of brutality.
