used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
react verbally
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
on or to one side
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
Destroyer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
diminutiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
very small
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
ell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
envelopesnounUS /ˈenvəloʊps/
plural of “envelope” — a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
goin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
hatchwaynoun
an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
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 "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
MailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
mail-bags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
oarnounUS /ɔːr/
an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
ope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
outstretchedadjectiveUS /aʊtˈstretʃt/
fully extended especially in length
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
pantrynounUS /ˈpæntri/
a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
perishin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/
a formal and solemn declaration of objection
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
QuartermasternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtərmæstər/
an army officer who provides clothing and subsistence for troops
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
shippedverbUS /ʃɪpt/
inflected form of “ship” — transport commercially
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
be seated
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
snowingverbUS /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “snow” — fall as snow
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
with low volume
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
sounoun
a former French coin of low denomination; often used of any small amount of money
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
StewardnounUS /ˈstuːərd/
someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
tarpaulinnoun
waterproofed canvas
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
push forcefully
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
the act of using
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
Wardroomnoun
military quarters for dining and recreation for officers of a warship (except the captain)
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
look attentively
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
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 It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
westernounUS /ˈwestər/
wind that blows from west to east
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
wettin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don' mind wettin' my blinking shirt," he muttered, as he tugged at the oar, "not so long as we brings 'ope 'an' comfort.
whalernounUS /ˈweɪlər/
a seaman who works on a ship that hunts whales
From this reading It was snowing hard, and the whaler that brought off the Destroyer's Christmas mail had shipped sufficient water to call for a muttered protest from beneath the sou'-wester of the stroke oar.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But if them perishin' mail-bags is goin' to sit in a pool o' water--what the 'ell's the use?
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading The Quartermaster of the Watch pushed aside the tarpaulin cover to the Wardroom hatchway and whistled softly through his teeth.
which person or people
From this reading "Mail," he said to the Officers' Steward, who stepped out of the diminutive pantry in answer to the summons, and, bending down, thrust a bundle of sodden envelopes into the outstretched hand.
