used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
alertnessnounUS /əˈlɜːrtnəs/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
diligentlyadverbUS /ˈdɪlədʒəntli/
with diligence; in a diligent manner
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
dodgingnounUS /ˈdɑːdʒɪŋ/
nonperformance of something distasteful (as by deceit or trickery) that you are supposed to do
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
everybody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
imprecationnoun
the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
a course of conduct
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
with speed
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
recedeverbUS /rɪˈsiːd/
pull back or move away or backward
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
rudelyadverbUS /ˈruːdli/
in an impolite manner
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
SAILOR-BOY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SAILOR-BOY.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
shovedverbUS /ʃʌvd/
past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SAILOR-BOY.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The city now began to recede rapidly from view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For the first few hours at sea, Jerry was little better than a piece of lumber, in everybody’s way.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Nobody told him what to do, and, indeed, he was pretty diligently employed in watching the quick movements of the sailors, for the purpose of dodging out of their path.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, with all his alertness, he was not quick enough to avoid being sometimes rudely shoved one side, with a muttered imprecation on his head for getting in the way.
