used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
a person who is in charge
From this reading His chief fault was a love of strong drink.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
take in liquids
From this reading His chief fault was a love of strong drink.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading His chief fault was a love of strong drink.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
Francesco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His chief fault was a love of strong drink.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
immediately past
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading His chief fault was a love of strong drink.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
not any; not one
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
sailor'snounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
possessive form of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading His chief fault was a love of strong drink.
swarthyadjectiveUS /ˈswɔːrði/
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
unpopularadjectiveUS /ˌʌnˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with disfavor or lacking general approval
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
precisely as stated
From this reading In fact, a sailor’s last name is very little used.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONCLUSION Among the sailors was an Italian named Francesco.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Probably he had another name, but no one knew what it was.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a man of middle height, very swarthy, with bright, black eyes, not unpopular, for the most part, but with a violent temper.