used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading MELVILLE BAY.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
Bonsall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
BrooksnounUS /brʊks/
United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
make calm or still
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
converseverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərs/
carry on a conversation
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
Eric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had just passed Hakluyt Island, when the "Eric" sunk.
Hakluyt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had just passed Hakluyt Island, when the "Eric" sunk.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/
address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading They had just passed Hakluyt Island, when the "Eric" sunk.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
and nothing more
From this reading They had just passed Hakluyt Island, when the "Eric" sunk.
Kane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
MELVILLEnounUS /ˈmelvɪl/
United States writer of novels and short stories (1819-1891)
From this reading MELVILLE BAY.
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
not any; not one
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They had just passed Hakluyt Island, when the "Eric" sunk.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
squadronnounUS /ˈskwɑːdrən/
a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading They had just passed Hakluyt Island, when the "Eric" sunk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
accept gladly
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ON the nineteenth of June the boats were launched into the sea, now calm, the "Faith" leading under Kane, and the "Eric" under Bonsall, and the "Hope" under Brooks following.
at the time that
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But there was no leisure for converse with birds.
a late time of life
From this reading The sea birds screamed a welcome to the squadron, and flew about them as if to inquire why they came back in three vessels instead of one, as when they sailed northward two years before.
