used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
availableadjectiveUS /əˈveɪləbəl/
obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
foresailnoun
the lowest sail on the foremast of a square-rigged vessel
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
HaleynounUS /ˈheɪli/
United States rock singer who was one of the first to popularize rock'n'roll music (1925-1981)
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
HarveynounUS /ˈhɑːrvi/
English physician and scientist who described the circulation of the blood; he later proposed that all animals originate from an ovum produced by the female of the species (1578-1657)
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
ten 10s
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
knotsnounUS /nɑːts/
plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
knottedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːtɪd/
tied with a knot
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
full of life and energy
From this reading “Lively, now, we’ve lost time.”
looseningnounUS /ˈluːsənɪŋ/
an occurrence of control or strength weakening
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading “Lively, now, we’ve lost time.”
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
and nothing more
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Lively, now, we’ve lost time.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
reef-points
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
reefsnounUS /riːfs/
plural of “reef” — a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
recurring again and again
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
seamennounUS /ˈsiːmən/
plural of “seaman” — a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
shortenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtənd/
cut short
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
sloopnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
make square
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Shake out the reefs and get the foresail on her,” called Haley.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Lively, now, we’ve lost time.”
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Harvey had done the like a hundred times aboard his own sloop.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
untyingnoun
loosening the ties that fasten something
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Lively, now, we’ve lost time.”
at the time that
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The mate repeated the order; the two available seamen began untying the reef-points, which had been knotted when sail had been shortened in the breeze of the previous day.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was simple enough work, merely the loosening and untying of a series of square knots.
