used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
(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 If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
ASSIGNEDadjectiveUS /əˈsaɪnd/
appointed to a post or duty
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
Baxter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
cruisersnounUS /ˈkruːzərz/
plural of “cruiser” — a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
promote over another
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
of great significance or value
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
man-of-warnoun
a warship intended for combat
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
north-eastadverbUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
to, toward, or in the northeast
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
PHIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
SHIPMATESnounUS /ˈʃɪpmeɪts/
plural of “shipmate” — an associate on the same ship with you
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
slavers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
in the near future
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
