used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXCITING TIME.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
awnings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
CanningverbUS /ˈkænɪŋ/
inflected form of “can” — preserve in a can or tin
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
CathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
cocoanutnoun
large hard-shelled oval nut with a fibrous husk containing thick white meat surrounding a central cavity filled (when fresh) with fluid or milk
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
DalenounUS /deɪl/
an open river valley (in a hilly area)
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
deafeningadjectiveUS /ˈdefənɪŋ/
loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
EXCITINGadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading AN EXCITING TIME.
fan-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
flagstaffnounUS /ˈflæɡstæf/
a town in north central Arizona; site of an important observatory
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
hausehole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
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 To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
RoadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
RupertnounUS /ˈruːpərt/
English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
transport commercially
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
shorewards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
SingaporenounUS /ˈsɪŋəpɔːr/
the capital of Singapore; one of the world's biggest ports
From this reading Singapore!
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
spirenounUS /spaɪr/
a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading AN EXCITING TIME.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the left the brown slopes of Fort Canning, crowned with its giant flagstaff and fluttering flags.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
a Caucasian
From this reading A tropical sun beat fiercely down on the awnings, and Rupert Dale, leaning over the rail, gazed shorewards at the great plain framed in cocoanut palms—the Cathedral spire rising white and dazzling out of the green, fan-like leaves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The chain rattled through the hausehole with a deafening roar, and the great ship swung at anchor in the Roads.
