used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
at or in the front
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
baseballnounUS /ˈbeɪsˈbɔːl/
a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
bobbingverbUS /ˈbɑːbɪŋ/
inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
favorableadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪvərəbəl/
encouraging or approving or pleasing
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
set up or found
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
maddeningadjectiveUS /ˈmædənɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
on one occasion
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
onlookersnounUS /ˈɔːnlʊkərz/
plural of “onlooker” — someone who looks on
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
playersnounUS /ˈpleɪərz/
plural of “player” — a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
ploughingnoun
tilling the land with a plow
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
recedingnounUS /rɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
a slow or gradual disappearance
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
cut with a saw
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
transport commercially
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/
a large gathering of people
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading It was maddening to the onlookers to see the distance increase between the giant ship and that bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of waters.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The steamer, which had been taking advantage of the favorable weather and had been ploughing ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, although orders had been given at once to shut off steam.
which person or people
From this reading They followed the pointing fingers and saw the head of a man who was swimming desperately toward the receding ship.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading A number of people were pointing wildly over the port side at a small object some distance behind the ship.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading ONE STRIKE AND OUT The two young baseball players and the girls joined the throng that was racing toward the stern.
