used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SNARE.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
any thing at all
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
Cadbury's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'This is the _Firefly_, Lord Cadbury's yacht?'
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
a boy or man
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
fidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
FireflynounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪ/
tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading 'This is the _Firefly_, Lord Cadbury's yacht?'
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
GoringnounUS /ˈɡɔːrɪŋ/
German politician in Nazi Germany who founded the Gestapo and mobilized Germany for war (1893-1946)
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
come to pass
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
impetuouslyadverb
in an impulsive or impetuous way; without taking cautions
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'This is the _Firefly_, Lord Cadbury's yacht?'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'It is.'
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading 'This is the _Firefly_, Lord Cadbury's yacht?'
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
navaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
riggers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
sailor-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
express in words
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading 'You had an accident at sea--a collision; did anything else happen, were any lives lost?' asked Goring, impetuously and nervously.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
SNAREnounUS /sner/
something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
From this reading A SNARE.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'This is the _Firefly_, Lord Cadbury's yacht?'
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
topmastnoun
the mast next above a lower mast and topmost in a fore-and-aft rig
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
moved around an axis or center
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
which person or people
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading 'This is the _Firefly_, Lord Cadbury's yacht?'
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A smart, sailor-like fellow, wearing an Oxford jacket and naval cap, and who seemed to be in authority, as he was overlooking the riggers, who were swaying up and fidding the topmast, now turned and gave him a glance of inquiry, as much as to say, 'Now, who are you, and what do you want?'
