used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
AlertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
AshenounUS /æʃ/
United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993)
From this reading He had half-expected to find Tommy Ashe hereabouts.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
cruisernounUS /ˈkruːzər/
a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
eddyverbUS /ˈedi/
flow in a circular current, of liquids
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
enlightenedadjectiveUS /ˌenˈlaɪtənd/
having knowledge and spiritual insight
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
coins made of gold
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
half-expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had half-expected to find Tommy Ashe hereabouts.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
hereaboutsadverbUS /ˈhɪrəbaʊts/
in this general vicinity
From this reading He had half-expected to find Tommy Ashe hereabouts.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
juttingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌtɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
the force of workers available
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
ThompsonnounUS /ˈtɑːmpsən/
United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had half-expected to find Tommy Ashe hereabouts.
Tommy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not particularly surprised to find Tommy's motor boat there.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
a Caucasian
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading TWO MEN AND A WOMAN Thompson drove his canoe around a jutting point and came upon a white cruiser swinging at anchor in an eddy.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In any case the name _Alert_ in gold leaf on her bows would have enlightened him.
a late time of life
From this reading Her lines were familiar though he had not seen her in two years.
