used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
anew
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The boy could hardly believe his senses.
boardedverbUS /ˈbɔːrdəd/
past form of “board” — get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy could hardly believe his senses.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
CoffinnounUS /ˈkɔːfɪn/
box in which a corpse is buried or cremated
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The boy could hardly believe his senses.
crowdingnounUS /ˈkraʊdɪŋ/
a situation in which people or things are crowded together
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
EzranounUS /ˈezrə/
a Jewish priest and scribe sent by the Persian king to restore Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
well known or easily recognized
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
Fish-hawk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
GloucesternounUS /ˈɡlɑːstər/
a town in northeastern Massachusetts on Cape Ann to the northeast of Boston; the harbor has been a fishing center for centuries
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
greetverbUS /ɡriːt/
express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
only a very short time before
From this reading The boy could hardly believe his senses.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boy could hardly believe his senses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
and nothing more
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
lantern-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
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 Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
Mateo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading The boy could hardly believe his senses.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Was this really the schooner he had left in Gloucester more than a month before?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
hard to endure
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The voice that greeted Breeze so heartily was that of Captain Ezra Coffin, and the schooner he had just boarded was the _Fish-hawk_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Could it be that he had again fallen in with friends on the high seas?
but in spite of that
From this reading It did not seem possible, and yet here was Captain Coffin shaking his hand, old Mateo dancing about and trying for a chance to embrace him, and other familiar faces, seen dimly by the lantern-light, crowding forward to greet him.
