used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
Aleck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
apprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
quick to understand
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
Bixby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
the two together, not just one
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
lacking funds
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
taking care or paying attention
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
a person who is in charge
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
consumingadjectiveUS /kənˈsuːmɪŋ/
very strong; urgently felt
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
cursingverbUS /ˈkɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “curse” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
at any time
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
every person
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
the act of departing
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
headwaynounUS /ˈhedweɪ/
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading She'll never raise the reef on this headway!'
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
the act of retaining something
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
hurricanenounUS /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
set down according to a plan
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
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 The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
a form of address for a man
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
easily agitated
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She'll never raise the reef on this headway!'
not any; not one
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading She'll never raise the reef on this headway!'
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading She'll never raise the reef on this headway!'
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
She'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She'll never raise the reef on this headway!'
in a vehement outcry
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
not in physical motion
From this reading The captain, a nervous, apprehensive man, kept still as long as he could, but finally broke down and shouted from the hurricane deck-- 'For gracious' sake, give her steam, Mr. Bixby! give her steam!
required or under orders
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She'll never raise the reef on this headway!'
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ONE day, on board the 'Aleck Scott,' my chief, Mr. Bixby, was crawling carefully through a close place at Cat Island, both leads going, and everybody holding his breath.
at the time that
From this reading But five minutes later, when the danger was past and the leads laid in, he burst instantly into a consuming fury, and gave the captain the most admirable cursing I ever listened to.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For all the effect that was produced upon Mr. Bixby, one would have supposed that no remark had been made.