used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
one or the other of two
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
fendersnounUS /ˈfendərz/
plural of “fender” — a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two were to take the long poles used for punting.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Two were to take the long poles used for punting.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
padnounUS /pæd/
a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Two were to take the long poles used for punting.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
puntingnoun
(football) a kick in which the football is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground
From this reading Two were to take the long poles used for punting.
pushverbUS /pʊʃ/
move with force
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
a strong line
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
stripsnounUS /strɪps/
plural of “strip” — a relatively long narrow piece of something
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
carry out
From this reading Two were to take the long poles used for punting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
except if; if not
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
the act of using
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Two were to take the long poles used for punting.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
warpsnounUS /wɔːrps/
plural of “warp” — a twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall.
in the company of; together with
From this reading BACK WITH THE PRINCE Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped round these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise.
