used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SHIP AT LAST.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SHIP AT LAST.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
brighteningverbUS /ˈbraɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
docksnounUS /dɑːks/
plural of “dock” — an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
set up or found
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
a quick look
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
immediately past
From this reading A SHIP AT LAST.
in the recent past
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
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 Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
MorleynounUS /ˈmɔːrli/
United States chemist and physicist who collaborated with Michelson in the Michelson-Morley experiment (1838-1923)
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
go across or through
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/
operate an airplane
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
pilotsnounUS /ˈpaɪləts/
plural of “pilot” — someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/
blowing tobacco smoke out into the air
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
cut with a saw
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
shadingnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
transport commercially
From this reading A SHIP AT LAST.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
in the near future
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
steam-tug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "This has been a hard month for me," thought Morley Scott, the pilot, as he stood shading his eyes from the sun, and gazing anxiously out at sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
townounUS /toʊ/
the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Many ships had been obliged to pass by the harbour, unable to get in, and the pilots had found very little to do.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
precisely as stated
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
(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 "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He hoped to have caught a glimpse of ships in the distance, for the winds had been very contrary lately.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "That looks well," he thought, brightening up, as he saw a busy little steam-tug puffing along with a ship in tow; he knew a pilot would soon be wanted to bring it safely into the docks.
