used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
AlbatrossnounUS /ˈælbətrɑːs/
(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
anchoragenounUS /ˈæŋkərədʒ/
the condition of being secured to a base
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
Barclugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
EggnounUS /eɡ/
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
HarborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
Holker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
inletnounUS /ˈɪnlet/
an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands)
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
low-lyingadjective
having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
mendverbUS /mend/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
and nothing more
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
overhaulverbUS /ˈoʊvərhɔːl/
travel past
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
go across or through
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
privateernoun
an officer or crew member of a privateer
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
riggingnounUS /ˈrɪɡɪŋ/
gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
Roderick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
RoebucknounUS /ˈroʊbʌk/
male roe deer
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
transport commercially
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
move stealthily
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
spars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was much to keep his crew busy, for he had rigging to overhaul and spars to mend.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading At the time Roderick Barclugh was boarding the Albatross, the Holker was waiting to escape, and little did he think that he was to run across the privateer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If a boarding party from the English frigate did not attack him, Captain Risk was preparing his ship for a chance to escape.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
at the time that
From this reading When the Holker made the inlet at Little Egg Harbor, she came to an anchorage behind one of the low-lying islands.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Her only chances for an escape were a high tide and darkness, or a fog that would let her slip out and pass the Roebuck.
