used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
backingnounUS /ˈbækɪŋ/
the act of providing approval and support
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
bantamnounUS /ˈbæntəm/
any of various small breeds of fowl
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
goings-on
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
an opening into or through something
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
and nothing more
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
a boy or man
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
the sound of laughing
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
a unit of instruction
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
loutnounUS /laʊt/
an awkward stupid person
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
lubbersnounUS /ˈlʌbərz/
plural of “lubber” — an awkward stupid person
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
mastheadnounUS /ˈmæsthed/
a listing printed in all issues of a newspaper or magazine (usually on the editorial page) that gives the name of the publication and the names of the editorial staff, etc.
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
mess-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
being perceived or observed
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
pegsnounUS /peɡz/
plural of “peg” — a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
precisely, exactly
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
SEA-FIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
single-handedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəlˈhændɪd/
unsupported by other people
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
thrashverbUS /θræʃ/
give a thrashing to; beat hard
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
an act of traveling by water
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
wagernounUS /ˈweɪdʒər/
the act of gambling
From this reading He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.”
the words that are spoken
From this reading A SEA-FIGHT As the conflict of words came to an end, a roar of laughter burst from the sailors at the next mess-table.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed.
