used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
AlaricnounUS /ˈælərɪk/
king of the Visigoths who captured Rome in 410 (370-410)
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
exhale hard
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
boat-hook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
Bonny's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
derisivelyadverbUS /dərˈɪsɪvli/
in a disrespectful and mocking manner
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
dinghynounUS /ˈdɪŋi/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
divisible by two
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
a quick look
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
hold firmly
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
the act of retaining something
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
an instinctive motive
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
and nothing more
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
the force of workers available
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
oarnounUS /ɔːr/
an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
sailor'snounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
possessive form of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
scullingnoun
rowing by a single oarsman in a racing shell
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
sloopnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
having a supporting base
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
dependable
From this reading Alaric caught another mental glimpse of the government prison, and even Bonny's stout heart experienced an instant of despair.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ESCAPE OF THE FIRST MATE AND CREW.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was still standing in the stern of the dinghy and holding the oar that he had used in sculling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The situation certainly looked hopeless for our lads, and the men on the sloop were already shouting derisively at them.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Moved by a sudden impulse, and just as the extended boat-hook was dropping over the stern of the dinghy, he struck it a smart blow with his oar, and had the good fortune to send it whirling from the sailor's grasp.
