used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
boatswainnounUS /ˈboʊtsweɪn/
a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
boomingadjectiveUS /ˈbuːmɪŋ/
very lively and profitable
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
frigatesnounUS /ˈfrɪɡəts/
plural of “frigate” — a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading Presently the frigates yawed.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
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 At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
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 At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
the force of workers available
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
mounseers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
popguns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
in the near future
From this reading Presently the frigates yawed.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
Rayner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
not in physical motion
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two flashes were seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the ocean.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was taking place astern.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
yawed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently the frigates yawed.
but in spite of that
From this reading "We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed the boatswain, with a laugh.
