used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
abeamadverb
at right angles to the length of a ship or airplane
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
commodorenounUS /ˈkɑːmədɔːr/
a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The distance was too great to engage.
an opposing military force
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
engageverbUS /enˈɡeɪdʒ/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading The distance was too great to engage.
ensignnounUS /ˈensən/
a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
fleetsnounUS /fliːts/
plural of “fleet” — group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The distance was too great to engage.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
hoistedverbUS /ˈhɔɪstəd/
past form of “hoist” — raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
immediately past
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
leaguesnounUS /liːɡz/
plural of “league” — an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
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 I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
manoeuvring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
perceivingverbUS /pərˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “perceive” — to become aware of through the senses
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
PikenounUS /paɪk/
a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
transport commercially
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
term of address for a man
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
sternmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
tackedverbUS /tækt/
past form of “tack” — fasten with tacks
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The distance was too great to engage.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The distance was too great to engage.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The enemy did the same but, perceiving that our leading ships were likely to weather on him, he tacked, and hauled off to the northward.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading I left the two fleets manoeuvring for the wind, in the last chapter.
WolfenounUS /wʊlf/
United States writer who has written extensively on American culture (born in 1931)
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading At this time our sternmost vessels were two leagues off, and the commodore wore round, and hauled up on the other tack.
Yeo's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine o'clock, the Pike got abeam of the Wolfe, Sir James Yeo's own ship, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few guns to try the range of her shot.
