used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
blottedverbUS /ˈblɑːtəd/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
CUTTERnounUS /ˈkʌtər/
someone who cuts or carves stone
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
foresailnoun
the lowest sail on the foremast of a square-rigged vessel
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
GullverbUS /ɡʌl/
make a fool or dupe of
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
indistinctadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
interveningadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
occurring or falling between events or points in time
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
loomingverbUS /ˈluːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
REVENUEnounUS /ˈrevənuː/
the entire amount of income before any deductions are made
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
make square
From this reading I was certain of that from the height of the rail, and the outline of a square foresail showing dimly against the sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading It was hard to determine the nature of the vessel, the sides looming so close above us, but it was not the _Sea Gull_.
a vivid mental image
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE REVENUE CUTTER The vision, indistinct in the gloom, was blotted out from me by the intervening sail.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was only as I leaned well to one side that I could distinguish the dim outlines.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading By that time we were almost upon it, and I could only sheer away to avoid collision.
