used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
(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 All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
battleshipsnounUS /ˈbætəlʃɪps/
plural of “battleship” — large and heavily armoured warship
From this reading The battleships did not follow in pursuit.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
bombardingverbUS /bɑːmˈbɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “bombard” — cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
civiliansnounUS /səˈvɪljənz/
plural of “civilian” — a nonmilitary citizen
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
defencelessadjective
lacking protection or support
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
destroyersnounUS /dɪˈstrɔɪərz/
plural of “destroyer” — a small fast lightly armored but heavily armed warship
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The battleships did not follow in pursuit.
to come or go into
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The battleships did not follow in pursuit.
frightfulnessnoun
the quality of being frightful
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
fullestadjectiveUS /ˈfʊləst/
superlative of “full” — containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
hopelesslyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpləsli/
in a hopeless manner
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
become covered with mist
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The battleships did not follow in pursuit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
and nothing more
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
outranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading The battleships did not follow in pursuit.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
move hurridly
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
carry out
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
TheirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
unoffendingadjective
not offending
From this reading Theirs was the sinister purpose of bombarding defenceless towns and spreading "frightfulness" amongst unoffending civilians.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The two destroyers raced up to her help, making as much smoke as possible to hide her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not their intention to enter into a sea fight, if one could be avoided.
zig-zagadjectiveUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/
having short sharp turns or angles
From this reading All three, hopelessly outranged, could only steam about in a zig-zag course at their fullest speed and at length take refuge in the mist.
