used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
(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 All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
lacking funds
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
combers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
frothingadjective
producing or covered with lathery sweat or saliva from exhaustion or disease
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
half-spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
hoveverbUS /hoʊv/
inflected form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
lurchedverbUS /lɜːrtʃt/
past form of “lurch” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
pelletsnounUS /ˈpeləts/
plural of “pellet” — a small sphere
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
rammingverbUS /ˈræmɪŋ/
inflected form of “ram” — strike or drive against with a heavy impact
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
scudded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
Selache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
showersnounUS /ˈʃaʊərz/
plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading All around the narrow circle a leaden sky met the sea.
slantedadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪd/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
smoke-adrift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading It was bitterly cold, and the spray stung the skin like half-spent pellets from a gun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
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 Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Having little way upon her, she lurched over instead of ramming the waves, and though now and then one curled on board across her rail it was not often that there was much heavy water upon her slanted deck.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
wisps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST ICE Before they hove to the _Selache_, daylight broke on a frothing sea, across which scudded wisps of smoke-adrift and thin showers of snow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With two little wet rags of canvas set the schooner lay almost head on to the big combers.
