used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
the two together, not just one
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
companion-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
destroyed or killed
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
provoking horror
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
jibverbUS /dʒɪb/
refuse to comply
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
lendverbUS /lend/
bestow a quality on
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
luffedverbUS /lʌft/
past form of “luff” — sail close to the wind
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
mainsailnoun
the lowermost sail on the mainmast
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
a particular point in time
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
sea-serpent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
shiftverbUS /ʃɪft/
make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
a special situation
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
tillernounUS /ˈtɪlər/
a shoot that sprouts from the base of a grass
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
unlikelyadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪkli/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
