used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
bumpingverbUS /ˈbʌmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
put or send forth
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
cursingverbUS /ˈkɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “curse” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
fasteningsnounUS /ˈfæsənɪŋz/
plural of “fastening” — restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
moving swiftly
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
gullsnounUS /ɡʌlz/
plural of “gull” — a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
horriblyadverbUS /ˈhɔːrəbli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
Lars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
lashingnounUS /ˈlæʃɪŋ/
beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
spars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
surfnounUS /sɜːrf/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
tyingnounUS /ˈtaɪɪŋ/
the act of tying or binding things together
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "See," he replied, as he helped her up the steps, "the gulls are flying over our heads: land must be near."
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was horribly true that the vessel was thumping and bumping on the rocks; the surf was roaring, and it seemed impossible for a boat to be launched.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sailors were making ready to cast themselves into the sea.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Some were cursing, others praying, and others tying and lashing themselves to spars which they had taken from their fastenings.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Not without you, Lars; we will not move an inch without you."
