used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Everything else was in black obscurity.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything else was in black obscurity.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything else was in black obscurity.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
set up or found
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
lusternounUS /ˈlʌstər/
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
not in physical motion
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading Everything else was in black obscurity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
peaknounUS /piːk/
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
with speed
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
sand-eel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
shinyadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪni/
reflecting light
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
the upper part of anything
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
wanedverbUS /weɪnd/
past form of “wane” — grow smaller
From this reading The red tip of the cigarette in the man’s mouth glowed and waned as he drew in the smoke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
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 The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
a Caucasian
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
wrigglingadjective
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading The moment that the match struck the water found Bill wriggling across the deck like a sand-eel.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading As quickly as a cat, Bill slipped down the ladder and, pressing his body against the side of the yacht, lay motionless.
yachtingnounUS /ˈjɑːtɪŋ/
water travel for pleasure
From this reading A bright point in the darkness, it moved forward, and in its soft luster Bill could distinguish the shiny peak and white linen top of the man’s yachting cap, beneath which his face was a dim brown blur.
