used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Was it an invitation or a warning?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
aunounUS /oʊ/
a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
buoyverbUS /ˈbuːi/
float on the surface of water
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
dippingverbUS /ˈdɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
Haut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Was it an invitation or a warning?
IslenounUS /aɪl/
a small island
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
and nothing more
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
LedgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
a brief written record
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was it an invitation or a warning?
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
pea-pod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
ponderedverbUS /ˈpɑːndərd/
past form of “ponder” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading Minutes passed as he pondered, barely dipping his oars.
RoaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
slackadjectiveUS /slæk/
not tense or taut
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Slowly at first, then faster, the stern of the boat swung round.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Was it an invitation or a warning?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was slack tide now and the pea-pod just held her own.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading Down on the breeze floated a distant, melancholy note, the voice of the whistling buoy south of Roaring Bull Ledge, two miles from Isle au Haut.
