used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
alternatelyadverbUS /ˈɔːltərnətli/
in an alternating sequence or position
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
amphibiannounUS /æmˈfɪbiən/
a flat-bottomed motor vehicle that can travel on land or water
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
AtlanticnounUS /ətˈlæntɪk/
the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
Bill'snounUS /bɪlz/
possessive form of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
fatedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtɪd/
(usually followed by “to”) determined by tragic fate
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
focussedadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊkəst/
being in focus or brought into focus
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
in a gradual manner
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
gluedadjectiveUS /ɡluːd/
affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
ten 10s
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
leewardnounUS /ˈliːwərd/
the direction in which the wind is blowing
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
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 A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
engage in
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
the force of workers available
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
Merrymaid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
one of four equal parts
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
rockedverbUS /rɑːkt/
past form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
sea-anchor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
seacocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
transport commercially
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
submarinenounUS /ˈsʌbməriːn/
a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
wherewith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Left on board the vessel with a boat wherewith to make their escape, these men were to open the seacocks of the fated ship.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading An hour later, Charlie sat aboard Bill’s amphibian which now lay moored to a sea-anchor a quarter of a mile to leeward of the _Merrymaid_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading Charlie, a pair of field glasses glued to his eyes, focussed them alternately on the yacht and on the deck of the submarine which was crowded with men.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading A hundred yards from the plane, the gray submarine rocked gently to a long Atlantic ground swell.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The object of all this interest was a group of three aboard the _Merrymaid_—three men and a youth.
