used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
bobbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
clothing in general
From this reading Reynolds flung on his clothes.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
davits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Reynolds flung on his clothes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
groaningverbUS /ˈɡroʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Reynolds flung on his clothes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
life-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter?"
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Reynolds flung on his clothes.
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
protestingverbUS /prəˈtestɪŋ/
-ing form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
railingnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋ/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
ReynoldsnounUS /ˈrenəldz/
English portrait painter and first president of the Royal Academy (1723-1792)
From this reading Reynolds flung on his clothes.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
not in physical motion
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The life-boat was being lowered, groaning and protesting as it cleared the davits and swung away from the ship's side.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
throngedadjectiveUS /θrɔːŋd/
filled with great numbers crowded together
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The boy in him was keen for excitement, and in five minutes he was on deck, and had joined the crowd of passengers that thronged the railing.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Far behind, in the still shining wake of the steamer, a small black object bobbed helplessly in the gray expanse of waters.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter?"
