used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
(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 "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
Bob'snounUS /bɑːbz/
possessive form of “bob” — a former monetary unit in Great Britain
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
fearless and daring
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
burlyadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrli/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
chapsnounUS /tʃæps/
plural of “chap” — a boy or man
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
characterized by great determination
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
fishermennounUS /ˈfɪʃərmɪn/
plural of “fisherman” — someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
the act of departing
From this reading "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
a particular point in time
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/
to extremes
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
rivalsnounUS /ˈraɪvəlz/
plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
rubbernounUS /ˈrʌbər/
an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
try to get or reach
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
a person, without saying who
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
in the near future
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
spellboundadjectiveUS /ˈspelbaʊnd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
carry out
From this reading "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A FIRE ON BOARD Surprise at the bold claim of their rivals held the three boys almost spellbound for a moment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
wadedverbUS /ˈweɪdɪd/
past form of “wade” — walk (through relatively shallow water)
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
whalenounUS /weɪl/
a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading The possibility that someone should seek to get possession of the whale they had brought ashore after such labor, and almost as soon as they landed, had never occurred to them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What had we better do?" asked Andy of his brother.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the fishermen seemed determined, for one of them began casting off Bob's anchor line, and several more of the burly chaps, in their long rubber boots, leaped overboard from the boat, and waded ashore.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you going to let them take our whale?"
