adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
boatsnounUS /boʊts/
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
chipnounUS /tʃɪp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
converseverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərs/
carry on a conversation
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
dipverbUS /dɪp/
immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
drowsilyadverb
in a drowsy manner
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
feelverbUS /fiːl/
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
gearnounUS /ɡɪr/
a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
gripesnounUS /ɡraɪps/
acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
hatchverbUS /hætʃ/
emerge from the eggs
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
lanyards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Not very long--two minutes perhaps.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not very long--two minutes perhaps.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
Patna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Not very long--two minutes perhaps.
port-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
rushverbUS /rʌʃ/
move hurridly
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
shipverbUS /ʃɪp/
transport commercially
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
shufflingnounUS /ˈʃʌflɪŋ/
walking with a slow dragging motion without lifting your feet
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
soundsnounUS /saʊndz/
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
stock-stilladjective
absolutely still
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
tossverbUS /tɔːs/
throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Not very long--two minutes perhaps.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Not very long--two minutes perhaps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
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 ‘How long he stood stock-still by the hatch expecting every moment to feel the ship dip under his feet and the rush of water take him at the back and toss him like a chip, I cannot say.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘The Patna had a long bridge, and all the boats were up there, four on one side and three on the other--the smallest of them on the port-side and nearly abreast of the steering gear.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading A couple of men he could not make out began to converse drowsily, and also, he could not tell where, he detected a curious noise of shuffling feet.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Above these faint sounds there was that awful stillness preceding a catastrophe, that trying silence of the moment before the crash; then it came into his head that perhaps he would have time to rush along and cut all the lanyards of the gripes, so that the boats would float as the ship went down.
