used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
at or in the front
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Now they were almost upon it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
involuntarilyadverbUS /ˌɪnvoʊˈlʌntərɪli/
against your will
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
a particular point in time
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
in motion
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Nearer and nearer they rushed to the shore.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now they were almost upon it.
on one occasion
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
with low volume
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
done under pressure
From this reading Nearer and nearer they rushed to the shore.
only a very short time before
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE Harry clutched the rail involuntarily.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nearer and nearer they rushed to the shore.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Now they were almost upon it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading He stood quietly at the wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his eyes were fixed intently ahead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
but in spite of that
From this reading It seemed as if at any moment they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but believe that the captain knew what he was doing.
