used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
subject to appointment
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
civiliannounUS /səˈvɪljən/
a nonmilitary citizen
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
clamberverbUS /ˈklæmbər/
climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
a person of German nationality
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
not accessible to view
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
jack-tars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
mastsnounUS /mæsts/
plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
the force of workers available
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
a particular point in time
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
NorwegiannounUS /ˌnɔːrˈwiːdʒən/
a native or inhabitant of Norway
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
recaptureverbUS /riˈkæptʃər/
experience anew
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
saloonnounUS /səˈluːn/
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
SeizingnounUS /ˈsiːzɪŋ/
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
transport commercially
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seizing their rifles they would jump to their appointed places.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
togsnounUS /tɑːɡz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
uniformsnounUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/
plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although the floor of my saloon where the prize crew would be dining looked like any other floor, it was in reality an elevator!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We would not attempt to recapture our own ship dressed in civilian togs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
in or at the place that
From this reading At another signal, the crew above deck would clamber up the iron masts, open small secret doors, reach down into the hollow chambers where their arms and uniforms were hidden, and a moment later German jack-tars would appear where humble Norwegian sailors had been a moment before.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Right in the middle of the meal, I would signal to my fighting men hidden on the lower deck.
