used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER ATTACK.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading ANOTHER ATTACK.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
Casa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
Chilian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
clappedverbUS /klæpt/
inflected form of “clap” — put quickly or forcibly
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
disputeverbUS /dɪsˈpjuːt/
take exception to
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
Glennie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
Grampusnoun
predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
huggedverbUS /hʌɡd/
inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
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 This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
limplyadverb
without rigidity
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
MotornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
PonsnounUS /pɑːnz/
United States coloratura soprano (born in France) (1904-1976)
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
sternward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
superstitiousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃəs/
showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
torpedonounUS /tɔːrˈpiːdoʊ/
a professional killer who uses a gun
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The strange movements of the torpedo had had something of an effect upon the _Grampus_, for she had swung about on her cable and dipped slightly sternward.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Glennie grabbed up the glasses the captain had been using a few minutes before, clapped them to his eyes, and proceeded to examine the surface of the bay.
vanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading This weird vanishing on the part of the object in dispute between Motor Matt and Captain Pons left those on steps of the Casa gasping.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The Frenchman dropped limply down and hugged his folded arms to his breast; the Chilian looked wild, and a superstitious fear arose in the eyes of the two negroes.
