used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
at or in the front
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
amphibiannounUS /æmˈfɪbiən/
a flat-bottomed motor vehicle that can travel on land or water
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
beachesnounUS /ˈbiːtʃəz/
plural of “beach” — an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
besiegers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
bluffsnounUS /blʌfs/
plural of “bluff” — a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
fearless and daring
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
busnounUS /bʌs/
a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading On the instant he changed his plan.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
CountingnounUS /ˈkaʊntɪŋ/
the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
doomedadjectiveUS /duːmd/
marked for certain death
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
an act that fails
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
harborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the instant he changed his plan.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading On the instant he changed his plan.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
isletnounUS /ˈaɪlɪt/
a small island
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
the light of the Moon
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
PignounUS /pɪɡ/
domestic swine
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading On the instant he changed his plan.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
procedurenounUS /prəˈsiːdʒər/
a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
ripplingnounUS /ˈrɪpəlɪŋ/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
move hurridly
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
cut with a saw
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
seawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/
(of winds) coming from the land
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
securingverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
skimmingnounUS /ˈskɪmɪŋ/
the act of removing floating material from the surface of a liquid
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
speedingnounUS /ˈspiːdɪŋ/
changing location rapidly
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Now that the moonlight doomed such procedure to certain failure, he proceeded to climb.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A bank to starboard brought Pig Island dead ahead and Bill saw that the moon glare, playing on the islet, threw every detail into bold relief.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
directed up
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Counting on the heavy cloud formation which was slowly spreading upward from the east, his first idea had been to land near the shore, and after securing the plane on one of the beaches, to rush the besiegers under cover of darkness.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Bill sent the amphibian roaring into the night wind, pulled her off the rippling waters of the harbor and skimming the twin bluffs at the entrance, sent his bus speeding seaward.
