used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
at or in the front
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
(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 Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
barkentines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
Blo-o-o-w
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
BLUBBERverbUS /ˈblʌbər/
cry or whine with snuffling
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
the two together, not just one
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
bowheads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
brignounUS /brɪɡ/
two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
From this reading Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
cruisingverbUS /ˈkruːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “cruise” — drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
fountainsnounUS /ˈfaʊntənz/
plural of “fountain” — a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
long-drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
Marr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
mastheads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
musteredverbUS /ˈmʌstərd/
past form of “muster” — gather or bring together
From this reading Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other ships saw them about the same time.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
ReindeernounUS /ˈreɪndɪr/
Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called “reindeer” in Eurasia and “caribou” in North America
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The other ships saw them about the same time.
cut with a saw
From this reading The other ships saw them about the same time.
an educational institution
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
in the near future
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
successive (without a break)
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The other ships saw them about the same time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The other ships saw them about the same time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The long-drawn, musical "Blo-o-o-w!" from their mastheads came to us across the water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
look attentively
From this reading Aboard the brig, the watch was called and all hands were mustered to the boats.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
whalesnounUS /weɪlz/
plural of “whale” — a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading There were twenty-five or thirty whales and a broad patch of sea was covered with their incessant fountains.
whalingverbUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “whale” — hunt for whales
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
at the time that
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
in the company of; together with
From this reading BLUBBER AND SONG We were cruising in open water soon afterward with two whaling ships in sight, the _Reindeer_ and the _Helen Marr_, both barkentines and carrying five boats each, when we raised a school of bowheads straight ahead and about five miles distant.
