used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
docksnounUS /dɑːks/
plural of “dock” — an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
flecknounUS /flek/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
gesticulatingadjective
making gestures while speaking
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
a quick look
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
immediately past
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
Mercedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
in the near future
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
semaphoreverb
send signals by or as if by semaphore
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
Silas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing at the rail, I could plainly see the brilliant feather on Mercedes' little French hat, nodding in the breeze.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boat pulled slowly away from the docks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
vari-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently the docks faded into a vari-colored blur, and Bill pulled me away from the rail.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
a Caucasian
From this reading A fleck of white was in her hand, now fluttering frantically, now at her eyes.
WrightnounUS /raɪt/
United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)
From this reading Wright, beside her, was gesticulating like a semaphore, and not far away, Silas was straining his keen eyes to catch the last glimpse of his Sarah.
