used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
BLACKBEARDnoun
an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
burglarsnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/
plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
CarolinanounUS /ˌkerəˈlaɪnə/
the area of the states of North Carolina and South Carolina
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
rid of obstructions
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
gentrynounUS /ˈdʒentri/
the most powerful members of a society
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
HOSTAGESnounUS /ˈhɑːstədʒəz/
plural of “hostage” — a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
intolerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɑːlərəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
used to form the superlative
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
parleynounUS /ˈpɑːrli/
a negotiation between enemies
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
pestilentadjective
exceedingly harmful
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
piratenounUS /ˈpaɪrət/
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
PlymouthnounUS /ˈplɪməθ/
a town in Massachusetts founded by Pilgrims in 1620
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
salt-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
sedateadjectiveUS /sɪˈdeɪt/
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
transport commercially
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
dependable
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
unsavoryadjectiveUS /ənˈseɪvəri/
morally offensive
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading HELD AS HOSTAGES TO BLACKBEARD TO discover the pestilent Blackbeard in Carolina waters was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Wellsby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading From what he knew of Blackbeard, it was useless to try to parley for the lives of his passengers.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Captain Wellsby had felt confident that he could beat off the ordinary pirate craft which was apt to be smaller than his own stout ship.
which person or people
From this reading And most of these unsavory gentry were mere salt-water burglars who had little taste for hard fighting.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The master of the _Plymouth Adventure_, so pious and sedate, was a brave man to whom the thought of surrender was intolerable.
