Chapter XXIV

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

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

later than; following

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

in the past

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

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

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

(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 Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

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

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

make certain of

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

cases used to carry belongings when traveling

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

in a bland manner

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

having or covered with or accompanied by blood

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

a strip of land projecting into a body of water

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

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

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

a long fixed look

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

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

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

destroyed or killed

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

excessively quick

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

and nothing more

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

a form of address for a man

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

not any; not one

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

by chance

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

transport commercially

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

term of address for a man

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

a clam that is usually steamed in the shell

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

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

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

a special situation

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “So I did go on shore, Mr. Speers; but I forgot this bloody carpet-bag, and I came back after it,” replied the baronet, pointing to the piece of baggage in the hand of the assumed porter.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.

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

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

male cat

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Speers looked at the bag, and then into the face of the porter, though Clinch turned away, and tried to avoid his gaze.

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

From this reading A HASTY RUN TO THE CAPE VERDS.

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

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

in or at the place that

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading Possibly Tom Speers had finished his difficult problem in navigation, and was making his rounds of the deck of the ship; or possibly the coming of the shore-boat had been reported to him by the lookout, and he wished to assure himself that every thing about the steamer was all right: at any rate, the officer of the deck was there, just where the sprigs did not wish him to be.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Ah, Sir Philip, I thought you had gone on shore some time ago,” said Tom, as blandly as though there was no mischief in him.