Chapter III · At Sea

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

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

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

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

tending to become more severe or wider in scope

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

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

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

having life or vigor or spirit

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

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

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

(prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

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

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

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

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness

From this reading The wild flowers drooped under the heat.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

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

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading The wild flowers drooped under the heat.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

full of trivial conversation

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading The wild flowers drooped under the heat.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

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

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

insulation used to wrap around pipes or boilers or laid in attics to prevent loss of heat

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

popular aquarium fish

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

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

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

possessing material wealth

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

a large beer glass

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

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

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

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

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

protected from danger or bad weather

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

fitting closely

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

make square

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

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

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

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

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

a large number or amount

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

inflected form of “trip” — miss a step and fall or nearly fall

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

precisely as stated

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

past form of “waft” — be driven or carried along, as by the air

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

possessive form of “watson” — United States telephone engineer who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in his experiments (1854-1934)

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards

From this reading The rich perfume of the wattle trees was slowly wafted to us by the lagging breeze.

in or at the place that

From this reading On a hot summer morning the Molly Asthore, a topsail schooner of 120 tons, tripped her anchor in Watson’s Bay, where she had been snugly moored during the previous night.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The shrill sounds of the garrulous cicadæ animated the thick bush which sheltered them on the shore.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading The wild flowers drooped under the heat.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.

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 Her square sails hung from the yards in graceful festoons, waiting to be sheeted home by her not very active crew, and under a light wind she slowly glided through Port Jackson Heads, where the swell of the lonely Southern Ocean was making itself heard in measured cadence.