Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

(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 "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Ay, ay; steady it is," replied Richard Grant, who was at the helm.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Ay, ay; steady it is," replied Richard Grant, who was at the helm.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

lacking definite form or limits

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

someone who is a detective

From this reading "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

-ing form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

let have

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

a tall slender dog of an ancient breed noted for swiftness and keen sight; used as a racing dog

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered

From this reading "Ay, ay; steady it is," replied Richard Grant, who was at the helm.

a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

moving to the inside of something

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Ay, ay; steady it is," replied Richard Grant, who was at the helm.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Port a little!

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading "Port a little!

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Ay, ay; steady it is," replied Richard Grant, who was at the helm.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

precisely, exactly

From this reading "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

scratch repeatedly

From this reading RICHARD GRANT AND FRIEND GET INTO AN AWFUL SCRAPE.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

make steady

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Ay, ay; steady it is," replied Richard Grant, who was at the helm.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Steady as she is, Dick, and we shall go in all right."

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.

which person or people

From this reading "Now, steady as she is," said Sandy Brimblecom, who lay upon the half-deck of the Greyhound, endeavoring to peer through the darkness of a cloudy night, which had settled deep and dense upon the Hudson, and obscured every object on the shore.