used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
in actual fact
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am willing to do anything, captain!" he groaned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
any thing at all
From this reading "I am willing to do anything, captain!" he groaned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I am willing to do anything, captain!" he groaned.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only don't--don't swing me from the--the yardarm!"
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
executedadjectiveUS /ˈeksəkjuːtɪd/
put to death as punishment
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
with resolute determination
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Only don't--don't swing me from the--the yardarm!"
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading "I am willing to do anything, captain!" he groaned.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am willing to do anything, captain!" he groaned.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
LIFTINGverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
MarshallnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəl/
United States actor (1914-1998)
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Only don't--don't swing me from the--the yardarm!"
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was to be executed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
and nothing more
From this reading "Only don't--don't swing me from the--the yardarm!"
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
Petrelnoun
relatively small long-winged tube-nosed bird that flies far from land
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
Shepley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
StormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
supercargonoun
an officer on a merchant ship in charge of the cargo and its sale and purchase
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading "Only don't--don't swing me from the--the yardarm!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
precisely as stated
From this reading That very evening Shepley begged to see Captain Marshall alone, and, when given the opportunity, actually fell on his knees before the master of the _Stormy Petrel_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
at the time that
From this reading LIFTING THE CURTAIN The second mate told the truth when he said Paul Shepley was a coward and under the thumb of the former supercargo.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading "I am willing to do anything, captain!" he groaned.
yardarmnoun
either end of the yard of a square-rigged ship
From this reading "Only don't--don't swing me from the--the yardarm!"
