used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
dinghynounUS /ˈdɪŋi/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
apart from; not including
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
the organ of sight
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
brought together in one place
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
conformity or harmony
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
lighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/
wetness caused by water
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
obscuringverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
Rowan'snounUS /ˈroʊənz/
possessive form of “rowan” — Eurasian tree with orange-red berrylike fruits
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
Southerness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He could not remember how long it was since he had seen the light, but it must have been some time, and he blamed himself for not keeping an eye on it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
WhitneynounUS /ˈwɪtni/
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading IN THE DARK Whitney frowned as he looked about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was no fog, but the air was filled with an obscuring moisture that wet his face and gathered upon the dinghy.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Since the _Rowan's_ canvas had been lowered she would be hard to see, and she lay at some distance from the water.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He could see nothing except the black line of the bank a few yards away and the beam from the lighthouse on Southerness, though this had grown less distinct.
