adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
apparentlyadverbUS /əˈperəntli/
from appearances alone
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
attendantnounUS /əˈtendənt/
someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
boardnounUS /bɔːrd/
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
BOAT-RACEverb
participate in a boat race
From this reading THE BOAT-RACE.
boatsnounUS /boʊts/
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
commotionnounUS /kəˈmoʊʃən/
a disorderly outburst or tumult
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
eightadjectiveUS /eɪt/
being one more than seven
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
exceedverbUS /ɪkˈsiːd/
be greater in scope or size than some standard
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
excitementnounUS /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
exertingverbUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “exert” — put to use
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
fastadverbUS /fæst/
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
lightsnounUS /laɪts/
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
MemphisnounUS /ˈmemfəs/
largest city of Tennessee; located in southwestern Tennessee on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
PatriotnounUS /ˈpeɪtriət/
one who loves and defends his or her country
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
signalnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəl/
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
steamboat-race
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
steamersnounUS /ˈstiːmərz/
plural of “steamer” — a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BOAT-RACE.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side, and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers on the Mississippi.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the signal for a general commotion on board the Patriot, and everything indicated that a steamboat-race was at hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At eight o'clock, on the evening of the third day of the passage, the lights of another steamer were soon in the distance, and apparently coming up very fast.
