used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
AustinnounUS /ˈɔːstən/
state capital of Texas on the Colorado River; site of the University of Texas
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
berthnounUS /bɜːrθ/
a job in an organization
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
boilernounUS /ˈbɔɪlər/
sealed vessel where water is converted to steam
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
comrade's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
coversnounUS /ˈkʌvərz/
plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
funnelnounUS /ˈfʌnəl/
a conical shape with a wider and a narrower opening at the two ends
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
hatchverbUS /hætʃ/
emerge from the eggs
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
become covered with mist
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
parrotsnounUS /ˈperəts/
plural of “parrot” — usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
skipper'snounUS /ˈskɪpərz/
possessive form of “skipper” — a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
not in physical motion
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
swampsnounUS /swɑːmps/
plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
possessing sweep
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
TOILverbUS /tɔɪl/
work hard
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
unoccupiedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːkjəpaɪd/
not held or filled or in use
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
unwaveringadjectiveUS /ənˈweɪvərɪŋ/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
vapournoun
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
precisely as stated
From this reading In the meanwhile it was almost cool, and very still; so still, in fact, that Austin was startled when a flock of parrots, invisible in the mist, swept past, screaming, overhead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
at the time that
From this reading TOIL A faint light was creeping into the skipper's room when Austin awakened, and, seeing his comrade's berth unoccupied, went out on deck.
in or at the place that
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then the sounds of man's activity suddenly commenced, for there was a clatter forward where the Spaniards flung the loose covers from the hatch, and a harsh rattle of chain mingled with the soft patter of their naked feet.
woollyadjectiveUS /ˈwʊli/
having a fluffy character or appearance
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading The swamps were wrapped in woolly vapour, and a column of dingy smoke went up straight and unwavering from the funnel of the locomotive boiler.
but in spite of that
From this reading The hot land breeze had died away, and it would be some time yet before that from the sea set in.
