used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
bravadonounUS /brəˈvɑːdoʊ/
a swaggering show of courage
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
terminate
From this reading Lynch was the first to break the silence.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
Ditson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He forced a laugh as he turned to Ditson.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Lynch was the first to break the silence.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading He forced a laugh as he turned to Ditson.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
harborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
the sound of laughing
From this reading He forced a laugh as he turned to Ditson.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
LynchverbUS /lɪntʃ/
kill without legal sanction
From this reading Lynch was the first to break the silence.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Lynch was the first to break the silence.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
express in speech
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lynch was the first to break the silence.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He forced a laugh as he turned to Ditson.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lynch was the first to break the silence.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading They watched his dark bulk as he mounted the steps from the float, nor did they speak until the sound of his feet died out upon the pier.
We've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ve got something interesting to look for,” he observed, with an air of bravado.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He left them there shivering in the launch with a sudden chill that came not wholly from the cool breath that crept in over the dark surface of the harbor.
