used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A ship! a ship!" shouted Harry.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading No one answered.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
make calm or still
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
conjecturenounUS /kənˈdʒektʃər/
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
fore-thwart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
set up or found
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading "A ship! a ship!" shouted Harry.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
HeaveverbUS /hiːv/
utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading "Heave a rope here!"
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Heave a rope here!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
not any; not one
From this reading No one answered.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one answered.
overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/
to extremes
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
precisely, exactly
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
a strong line
From this reading "Heave a rope here!"
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
seamannounUS /ˈsiːmən/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
securedverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrd/
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
transport commercially
From this reading "A ship! a ship!" shouted Harry.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "A ship! a ship!" shouted Harry.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the boat was slowly rubbing by the side of the ship (for Harry was right in his conjecture), he found a rope hanging overboard.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the activity of a seaman he secured the end round the fore-thwart of the boat, while David hauled down the sail--not that that was of any consequence, as the wind had fallen almost to a calm.
