used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
anew
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
(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 LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading But quick as I was, another was before me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
assailantnounUS /əˈseɪlənt/
someone who attacks
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/
disposed to attack
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But quick as I was, another was before me.
exhale hard
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
BRIGnounUS /brɪɡ/
two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
Clenching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first mate.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
hasteningverbUS /ˈheɪsənɪŋ/
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
cause to move by striking
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first mate.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
lurchedverbUS /lɜːrtʃt/
past form of “lurch” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading It was the first mate.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading The fact that he was attacking me did not prevent my hastening to his assistance.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading But quick as I was, another was before me.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
senselessadjectiveUS /ˈsensləs/
not marked by the use of reason
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading At the same instant the wind came again with great violence, the brig suddenly lurched, and my assailant pitched headlong against the starboard rail, striking his head with a force that knocked him senseless.
in the company of; together with
From this reading LEFT ON THE BRIG Clenching his fist as he came, he struck at me with all his tremendous strength, and, had he hit me, I am certain I should have been killed, but I was on the alert, and jumped to one side in time to avoid the blow.
