used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading They were almost abreast of the first one now.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They were almost abreast of the first one now.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Seymour turned as if he had been struck.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
Bentley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
entrancesnounUS /ˈentrənsəz/
plural of “entrance” — something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Seymour turned as if he had been struck.
IncidentaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnsɪˈdentəl/
(sometimes followed by “to”) minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They were almost abreast of the first one now.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were almost abreast of the first one now.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were almost abreast of the first one now.
go across or through
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
by chance
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
practicableadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəbəl/
usable for a specific purpose
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
with speed
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
respectfullyadverbUS /rɪˈspektfəli/
in a respectful manner
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
saferadjectiveUS /ˈseɪfər/
comparative of “safe” — free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
SeymournounUS /ˈsiːmɔːr/
Queen of England as the third wife of Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI (1509-1537)
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Seymour turned as if he had been struck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were almost abreast of the first one now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Seymour turned as if he had been struck.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We are almost abreast the first pass, Mr. Seymour," he said respectfully.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
which person or people
From this reading Bentley, who had been observing him keenly, came up to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _An Incidental Passage at Arms_ There were two entrances to the channel, lying perhaps a half mile apart, the first the better and more practicable, and certainly, with the frigate rapidly drawing near, the safer.
