Chapter III · Chapter 3

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

plural of “adherent” — someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

plural of “adventurer” — a person who enjoys taking risks

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

plural of “buccaneer” — someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

-ing form of “cruise” — drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

flow back or recede

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

set up or found

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

a person of French nationality

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

brought together in one place

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

an island in the West Indies

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

the force of workers available

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

get by special effort

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

the state of being prominent: widely known or eminent

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

having a quality that thrusts itself into attention

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some of them made a rough sort of settlement on the island of Tortuga, and then it was that Peter the Great seems to have come into prominence.

having come into contact

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

plural of “trader” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

precisely as stated

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

at the time that

From this reading The fortunes of Peter and his men must have been at a pretty low ebb when they found themselves cruising in a large, canoe-shaped boat not far from the island of Hispaniola.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

during the time that

From this reading He gathered about him a body of adherents, but although he had a great reputation as an individual pirate, it seems to have been a good while before he achieved any success as a leader.

which person or people

From this reading Peter the Great Very prominent among the early regular buccaneers was a Frenchman who came to be called Peter the Great.

in the company of; together with

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading This man seems to have been one of those adventurers who were not buccaneers in the earlier sense of the word (by which I mean they were not traders who touched at Spanish settlements to procure cattle and hides, and who were prepared to fight any Spaniards who might interfere with them), but they were men who came from Europe on purpose to prey upon Spanish possessions, whether on land or sea.