used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading _Better than the Cumberland!_—Heart alive in me!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
bellenounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
blacksmiths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading But his frigate, wife, his bride?
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his frigate, wife, his bride?
cockedverbUS /kɑːkt/
past form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
CumberlandnounUS /ˈkʌmbərlənd/
English general; son of George II; fought unsuccessfully in the battle of Fontenoy (1721-1765)
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
derbynounUS /ˈdɜːrbi/
a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading But his frigate, wife, his bride?
hammersnounUS /ˈhæmərz/
plural of “hammer” — the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
HandieradjectiveUS /ˈhændiər/
comparative of “handy” — easy to reach
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
HarkverbUS /hɑːrk/
listen; used mostly in the imperative
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading _Better than the Cumberland!_—Heart alive in me!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But his frigate, wife, his bride?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
IntoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
iron-clad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
lacedadjectiveUS /leɪst/
closed with a lace
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _Better than the Cumberland!_—Heart alive in me!
MonitorverbUS /ˈmɑːnətər/
keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
rat-tat-tat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
renownnounUS /rɪˈnaʊn/
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
precisely, exactly
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
Rivetting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
smiteverb
inflict a heavy blow on, with the hand, a tool, or a weapon
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
smithereensnounUS /ˌsmɪðərˈiːnz/
a collection of small fragments considered as a whole
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
displeasing to the senses
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
(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 The _Monitor_ was ugly, but she served us right well, Better than the _Cumberland,_ a beauty and the belle.”
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading But his frigate, wife, his bride?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Rivetting the bolts in the iron-clad’s shell, Hark to the hammers with _a rat-tat-tat;_ “Handier a _derby_ than a laced cocked hat!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Would blacksmiths brown Into smithereens smite the solid old renown?
