used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
Belding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
BrestnounUS /brest/
a port city in northwestern France (in Brittany); the chief naval station of France
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
cablegrams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
Colodia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
one or the other of two
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
your parents
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Two weeks and more had passed.
MorgannounUS /ˈmɔːrɡən/
United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
not any; not one
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
oft-repeated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Two weeks and more had passed.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
get something; come into possession of
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
RedbirdnounUS /ˈredbɜːrd/
the male is bright red with black wings and tail
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
salt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
in a serious manner
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
transport commercially
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “Don’t joke about such serious matters,” Belding replied.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
a special situation
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two weeks and more had passed.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading “The fate of a ship at sea is an uncertain thing at best,” Phil Morgan said seriously to his friend, “in spite of the old salt’s oft-repeated prayer: ‘Heaven help the folks ashore on this stormy night, Bill!’”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Two weeks and more had passed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
in or at the place that
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Philip Morgan and George Belding had no idea where the _Redbird_ was, or whether or not their relatives were safe.
wirelessnounUS /ˈwaɪrlɪs/
medium for communication
From this reading Since sailing out of Brest and before receiving her special orders by wireless telegraph, the _Colodia_ had made no base port where the crew could receive either mail or cablegrams.
