used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
ALTEREDadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
next to; at the side of
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
bulwarknounUS /ˈbʊlwərk/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
someone who is a detective
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
put on clothes
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
freshenedverbUS /ˈfreʃənd/
past form of “freshen” — make (to feel) fresh
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
gurgleverbUS /ˈɡɜːrɡəl/
flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
land-breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
liner'snounUS /ˈlaɪnərz/
possessive form of “liner” — (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
listlesslyadverbUS /ˈlɪstləsli/
in a listless manner
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
nettedadjectiveUS /ˈnetɪd/
having open interstices or resembling a web
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
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 A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
phosphorescentadjective
emitting light without appreciable heat as by slow oxidation of phosphorous
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
poopnounUS /puːp/
obscene terms for feces
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
posesnounUS /ˈpoʊzəz/
plural of “pose” — affected manners intended to impress others
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
quarter-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
SAILINGnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
shimmerverbUS /ˈʃɪmər/
shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
splashedadjectiveUS /splæʃt/
(of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
vessel'snounUS /ˈvesəlz/
possessive form of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
waterlinenoun
a line corresponding to the surface of the water when the vessel is afloat on an even keel; often painted on the hull of a ship
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.
at the time that
From this reading THE ALTERED SAILING LIST When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame.
