used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
barometernounUS /bərˈɑːmɪtər/
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
Beatty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
divisible by two
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
death of a person
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
not any; not one
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
recallingverbUS /rɪˈkɔːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
cut with a saw
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading And if Beatty's fleet had kept to sea, there would have been grave danger of their running one another down.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
transport commercially
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading The British, warned by the falling barometer, had taken their guard ships to shelter in the lee of the islands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing else for them to do in such a storm.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading We couldn't help recalling the old saying that it is indeed an ill wind that blows no one any good.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Even if they saw a ship, it would be hopeless to try to board her.
