used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
able-bodiedadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəlˈbɑːdid/
having a strong healthy body
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
(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 Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
behaviournounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
Cunha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
danounUS /dɑː/
an official prosecutor for a judicial district
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
the act of departing
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
flockedverbUS /flɑːkt/
past form of “flock” — move as a crowd or in a group
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That wasn’t the name for it!
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
gearnounUS /ɡɪr/
a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
GreedyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːdi/
immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
From this reading Greedy?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
half-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
indicationsnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “indication” — something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That wasn’t the name for it!
immediately past
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading That wasn’t the name for it!
not any; not one
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
relieve from
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
scroungeverbUS /skraʊndʒ/
collect or look around for
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
surplusnounUS /ˈsɜːrpləs/
a quantity much larger than is needed
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That wasn’t the name for it!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
TristannounUS /ˈtrɪstæn/
(Middle Ages) the nephew of the king of Cornwall who (according to legend) fell in love with his uncle's bride (Iseult) after they mistakenly drank a love potion that left them eternally in love with each other
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
UnashamedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈʃeɪmədli/
without shame
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
undidverbUS /ˌʌnˈdɪd/
inflected form of “undo” — cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That wasn’t the name for it!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps they were not to be blamed—they were mentally half-grown children, no more—but by their behaviour on this occasion they undid any good impressions we had formed of them.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
at the time that
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading Among the Islands A rising swell and indications of increasing bad weather caused us to hurry our departure from Tristan da Cunha; and when the whistle was blown in warning the able-bodied population flocked aboard in a last desperate determination to rid us of all our surplus gear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Unashamedly, with clutching fingers, they started in to scrounge whatever they could see.
