used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Then where be her spars?" inquired a messmate.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
crewsnounUS /kruːz/
plural of “crew” — the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
the first light of day
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
disclosedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskloʊzd/
made known (especially something secret or concealed)
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading What a dropping of whiskered jaws and ripping of sea oaths!
opinion or judgment
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
heavy-shouldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sunk," said one heavy-shouldered mariner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Then where be her spars?" inquired a messmate.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Then where be her spars?" inquired a messmate.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading What a dropping of whiskered jaws and ripping of sea oaths!
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
marinernounUS /ˈmerənər/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading "Sunk," said one heavy-shouldered mariner.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
messmatenoun
(nautical) an associate with whom you share meals in the same mess (as on a ship)
From this reading "Then where be her spars?" inquired a messmate.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
oathsnounUS /oʊðz/
plural of “oath” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading What a dropping of whiskered jaws and ripping of sea oaths!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Sunk," said one heavy-shouldered mariner.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
PlovernounUS /ˈplʌvər/
any of numerous chiefly shorebirds of relatively compact build having straight bills and large pointed wings; closely related to the sandpipers
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
rippingadjectiveUS /ˈrɪpɪŋ/
resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree
From this reading What a dropping of whiskered jaws and ripping of sea oaths!
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Sunk," said one heavy-shouldered mariner.
SCRAPEDverbUS /skreɪpt/
past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading What a dropping of whiskered jaws and ripping of sea oaths!
transport commercially
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
skippersnounUS /ˈskɪpərz/
plural of “skipper” — a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
SPARS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
SunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading "Sunk," said one heavy-shouldered mariner.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Then where be her spars?" inquired a messmate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
having passed out of existence
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a rubbing of eyes must have taken place!
at the time that
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Then where be her spars?" inquired a messmate.
WHILEconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading WHILE THE SPARS ARE SCRAPED It is difficult to imagine the feelings of the skippers and crews of the good ship _Plover_ and _Mary and Joyce_, when the gray light of dawn disclosed the fact that the _Heart of the West_ had vanished completely.
whiskeredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪskərd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading What a dropping of whiskered jaws and ripping of sea oaths!
