used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
AldebarannounUS /ælˈdebərən/
the brightest star in Taurus
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
(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 She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
any thing at all
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
for the reason that
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
close-hauledadjective
having the sails trimmed for sailing as close to the wind as possible
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
furledadjective
rolled up and secured
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
obtain
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
galesnounUS /ɡeɪlz/
plural of “gale” — a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
half-frozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
lullverbUS /lʌl/
calm by deception
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
lurchedverbUS /lɜːrtʃt/
past form of “lurch” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
engage in
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
plungesnounUS /ˈplʌndʒɪz/
plural of “plunge” — a brief swim in water
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
She'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
smoothernounUS /ˈsmuːðər/
a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
carry out
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
thrashingnounUS /ˈθræʃɪŋ/
a sound defeat
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two lads looked at each other, and neither of them said anything when in a lull between two plunges the man lurched away, but that was because they fancied he was right and both were unwilling to admit all that they were feeling.
at the time that
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading She’ll take all that to fetch round with this wind, any way."
windwardnounUS /ˈwɪndwərd/
the direction from which the wind is coming
From this reading They knew a good deal about close-hauled sailing now, for during four long weeks the _Aldebaran_ had been thrashing her way to windward in the face of stinging gales.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Well," said the man with a little grim laugh, "I’d give her another fortnight when I was at it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes when the sea was a trifle smoother she would gain a little on every tack, and then a fresh storm would come roaring down, and when they had furled the higher sails with half-frozen hands she would do little more than hold the wind upon her side and of course make nothing at all in the required direction.
