aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Go about and let's turn back."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Go about and let's turn back."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Go about and let's turn back."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
the act of breaking something
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Go about and let's turn back."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
and nothing more
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
let's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Go about and let's turn back."
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading "Well, then, quick!" said the major.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
O'Halloran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
and nothing more
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our only chance is in keeping on."
possession of controlling influence
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Well, then, quick!" said the major.
with speed
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
precisely, exactly
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, then, quick!" said the major.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Well, then, quick!" said the major.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Well, then, quick!" said the major.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading "Go about and let's turn back."
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 As he spoke he resumed the course they had been just taking, and now, rapidly increasing in power, the sound of the waves breaking on rocks could be heard to right and left.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, then, quick!" said the major.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "My dear Major O'Halloran," said the mate calmly, "if I attempt to go about, the boat will fill instantly and sink.
