used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
aboardadverbUS /əˈbɔːrd/
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
biographynounUS /baɪˈɑːɡrəfi/
an account of the series of events making up a person's life
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
boy-seaman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
cannibalsnounUS /ˈkænəbəlz/
plural of “cannibal” — a person who eats human flesh
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
a period of 100 years
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
eighteenthadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the seventeenth in position
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
divisible by two
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
Feejee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
fo'cstle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
illiterateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlɪtərət/
not able to read or write
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
KingstonnounUS /ˈkɪŋstən/
a town on the Hudson River in New York
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
immediately past
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
man-of-warnoun
a warship intended for combat
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
merchantmannoun
a cargo ship
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
press-gangs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
punnounUS /pʌn/
a humorous play on words
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
seamannounUS /ˈsiːmən/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
spansnounUS /spænz/
plural of “span” — the complete duration of something
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
startsnounUS /stɑːrts/
plural of “start” — the beginning of anything
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite
From this reading Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the fo'cstle.
whalernounUS /ˈweɪlər/
a seaman who works on a ship that hunts whales
From this reading We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the Feejee islands.
belonging to which person
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
wondermentnounUS /ˈwʌndərmənt/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with wonderment.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
a late time of life
From this reading This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the nineteenth.
