used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
boat'snounUS /boʊts/
possessive form of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
carpenternounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntər/
a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
fish-scale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were seats for six oarsmen.
set up or found
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
gignounUS /ɡɪɡ/
long and light rowing boat; especially for racing
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
homeliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NEW WOMAN IN SARGASSO.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
the force of workers available
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE NEW WOMAN IN SARGASSO.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
oarsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were seats for six oarsmen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
and nothing more
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
preservationnounUS /ˌprezərˈveɪʃən/
the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
refittedverbUS /riˈfɪtɪd/
inflected form of “refit” — fit out again
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
SARGASSOnounUS /sɑːrˈɡæsoʊ/
brown algae with rounded bladders forming dense floating masses in tropical Atlantic waters as in the Sargasso Sea
From this reading THE NEW WOMAN IN SARGASSO.
sea-grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
shellacnounUS /ˈʃelæk/
lac purified by heating and filtering; usually in thin orange or yellow flakes but sometimes bleached white
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading There were seats for six oarsmen.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW WOMAN IN SARGASSO.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were seats for six oarsmen.
theretoadverbUS /ˈðertuː/
to that
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
trimverbUS /trɪm/
remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were seats for six oarsmen.
at the time that
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
which person or people
From this reading The captain’s gig, which I had found in an excellent state of preservation on one of the lower decks, was put in the hands of one of the crew, who had some experience as a carpenter, and was thoroughly refitted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I had the seats in the stern of the boat covered with sea-grass cushions and the trim gig given a coat of the fish-scale shellac, without and within.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading THE NEW WOMAN IN SARGASSO.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading When the gig was finished and the oars fitted thereto, I selected a boat’s crew with great care, choosing only the strongest and homeliest young men from the ship’s company.
