used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
christenedverbUS /ˈkrɪsənd/
past form of “christen” — administer baptism to
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
flatterverbUS /ˈflætər/
praise somewhat dishonestly
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
fresheningverbUS /ˈfreʃənɪŋ/
-ing form of “freshen” — make (to feel) fresh
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
INDEPENDENCEnounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/
freedom from control or influence of another or others
From this reading A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
knotsnounUS /nɑːts/
plural of “knot” — a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
full of life and energy
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
Lon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
in motion
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
Mud-turtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
not any; not one
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
and nothing more
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
sailer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
skippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
in the near future
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was a little startling at first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots an hour, when she was doing only four.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
precisely as stated
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
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 The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
at the time that
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
which person or people
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move at a very lively rate through the water.
