1911
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
balesnounUS /beɪlz/
plural of “bale” — a large bundle bound for storage or transport
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
bamboonounUS /bæmˈbuː/
the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
bulked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
chantingnounUS /ˈtʃæntɪŋ/
the act of singing in a monotonous tone
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
continuouslyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəsli/
at every point
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
coolies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
crewsnounUS /kruːz/
plural of “crew” — the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
the organ of sight
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
at or to or toward the front
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
gangplanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
godownnounUS /ˈɡoʊdaʊn/
(in India and Malaysia) a warehouse
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
groupedadjectiveUS /ɡruːpt/
arranged into groups
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
Hsin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
hullnounUS /hʌl/
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
set afire or burning
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
NavigationnounUS /ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən/
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
on one occasion
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
promenadenounUS /ˌprɑːməˈneɪd/
a formal ball held for a school class toward the end of the academic year
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
rhythmicallyadverbUS /ˈrɪðmɪkli/
in a rhythmic manner
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
ShanghainounUS /ˈʃæŋˈhaɪ/
the largest city of China; located in the east on the Pacific; one of the largest ports in the world
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
shufflingnounUS /ˈʃʌflɪŋ/
walking with a slow dragging motion without lifting your feet
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
SwarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Swarming continuously across the gangplanks, chanting rhythmically to keep the quick shuffling step, crews of coolies carried heavy boxes and bales swung from bamboo poles.
twosnounUS /tuːz/
plural of “two” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading During the evening the white passengers were coming aboard by ones and twos and finding their cabins, all of which were forward on the promenade deck, grouped about the enclosed area that was to be at once their dining-room and “social hall.”
a Caucasian
From this reading Her white cabins, above, lighted here and there, loomed high and ghostly, extending as far as the eye could easily see from the narrow wharf beneath.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her black hull bulked large in the darkness that was spotted with inadequate electric lights.
YennounUS /jen/
a yearning for something or to do something
From this reading |ON a night in October, 1911, the river steamer _Yen Hsin_ lay alongside the godown, or warehouse, of the Chinese Navigation Company at Shanghai.
