used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
adoptverbUS /əˈdɑːpt/
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
one or the other of two
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
start firing a weapon
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
lagoonnounUS /ləˈɡuːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
look-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
engage in
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
absolutely essential
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
piratenounUS /ˈpaɪrət/
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
on the contrary
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
move hurridly
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
in the near future
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
storesnounUS /stɔːrz/
plural of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading We agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down the lagoon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
precisely as stated
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore or on the water.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Of course we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to effect our escape.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.
which person or people
From this reading We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.
