used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
highly skilled
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
anchorsnounUS /ˈæŋkərz/
plural of “anchor” — a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
Beatrix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
Beothics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
the two together, not just one
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
capstannounUS /ˈkæpstən/
a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis; used on ships for weighing anchor or raising heavy sails
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
clankverbUS /klæŋk/
make a clank
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
fishedverbUS /fɪʃt/
past form of “fish” — seek indirectly
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
Hawsers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
Kingswell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
MAGGIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
mannedadjectiveUS /mænd/
having a crew
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
the force of workers available
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
mufflingverbUS /ˈmʌflɪŋ/
-ing form of “muffle” — suppress in order to conceal or hide
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
with low volume
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
transport commercially
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
for a short time
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hawsers were passed from the small craft over the bows of the ship, and at a signal from a lantern in Kingswell's hand, the men bent their backs to the oars.
male cat
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
watchesnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃəz/
plural of “watch” — a small portable timepiece
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading MAGGIE STONE TAKES MUCH UPON HERSELF Shortly before midnight, Tom Bent went quietly about the task of waking both watches and the Beothics.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
at the time that
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The two small anchors by which the _Heart of the West_ swung in the tide were fished into two of the boats by hand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The three boats from Fort Beatrix were manned, with the muffling oars.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was a tough job; but, when it was accomplished, the ship was free without so much as a clank of cable or a turn of the noisy capstan.
