Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading And the billow, reckless, rover, Sweeps anew!

again but in a new or different way

From this reading And the billow, reckless, rover, Sweeps anew!

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

travel up

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

to gain with effort

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

rise up as if in waves

From this reading And the billow, reckless, rover, Sweeps anew!

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

a woman who has recently been married

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading Cries the sea-fowl, hovering over, “Crew, the crew?”

plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading Cries the sea-fowl, hovering over, “Crew, the crew?”

(of hair) having curls or waves

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

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

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

From this reading Cries the sea-fowl, hovering over, “Crew, the crew?”

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

a warship intended for combat

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

not any; not one

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

throughout a period of time

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

above and across; more than

From this reading Cries the sea-fowl, hovering over, “Crew, the crew?”

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

front part of a vessel or aircraft

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences

From this reading And the billow, reckless, rover, Sweeps anew!

have sovereign power

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

someone who leads a wandering unsettled life

From this reading And the billow, reckless, rover, Sweeps anew!

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

From this reading Cries the sea-fowl, hovering over, “Crew, the crew?”

(of winds) coming from the land

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

an instance of visual perception

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

sweep across or over

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

plural of “sweep” — a wide scope

From this reading And the billow, reckless, rover, Sweeps anew!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

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

From this reading Cries the sea-fowl, hovering over, “Crew, the crew?”

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

From this reading No arrow can reach him; nor thought can attain To the placid supreme in the sweep of his reign.

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

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

past form of “trick” — deceive somebody

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

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

From this reading THE FIGURE-HEAD The _Charles-and-Emma_ seaward sped, (Named from the carven pair at prow,) He so smart, and a curly head, She tricked forth as a bride knows how: Pretty stem for the port, I trow!

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

a Caucasian

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading THE MAN-OF-WAR HAWK Yon black man-of-war-hawk that wheels in the light O’er the black ship’s white sky-s’l, sunned cloud to the sight, Have we low-flyers wings to ascend to his height?