used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
bridgesnounUS /ˈbrɪdʒəz/
United States labor leader who organized the longshoremen (1901-1990)
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
choppyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːpi/
marked by abrupt transitions
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
cruisingverbUS /ˈkruːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “cruise” — drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
the first light of day
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
destroyersnounUS /dɪˈstrɔɪərz/
plural of “destroyer” — a small fast lightly armored but heavily armed warship
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
being one more than seven
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
at any time
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
explodingverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊdɪŋ/
-ing form of “explode” — cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
opinion or judgment
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
Fernald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
set up or found
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
impactnounUS /ˌɪmˈpækt/
the striking of one body against another
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
and nothing more
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
immediately past
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
a commissioned military officer
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
mine-sweepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
select carefully from a group
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
snub-nosedadjective
having a blunt nose
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
troughnounUS /trɔːf/
a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading EYES THAT LOOKED DOWN FROM THE AIR DAWN found the two destroyers cruising slowly northward, a little more than a mile apart.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The sea was so rough and choppy, last night, that the mine, at the instant of impact, happened to be in the trough of the sea and partly above water."
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Frequently changing their course, these little craft were doing their utmost to pick up any mine that may have been planted just far enough under water to be struck below the water line by passing vessels.
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
which person or people
From this reading "I suppose we're of the few who have ever seen the flash of an exploding floating mine," Dave remarked to Lieutenant Fernald.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within sight of the bridges of the two craft were eight small, snub-nosed mine-sweepers.
