used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
anew
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
boathook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
boilernounUS /ˈbɔɪlər/
sealed vessel where water is converted to steam
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
burrnounUS /bɜːr/
seed vessel having hooks or prickles
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
clickverbUS /klɪk/
move or strike with a noise
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
deathlyadjectiveUS /ˈdeθli/
having the physical appearance of death
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
forgedadjectiveUS /fɔːrdʒd/
reproduced fraudulently
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
Geoff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
and nothing more
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
marshesnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəz/
plural of “marsh” — low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
the force of workers available
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
Motor-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
petrolnounUS /ˈpetroʊl/
a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
purrverbUS /pɜːr/
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
reed-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
rifle-lock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
safety-valve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
cut with a saw
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
smotheredadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərd/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
push forcefully
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
up to a particular time
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
TurkishadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrkɪʃ/
of or relating to or characteristic of Turkey or its people or language
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading From the far side, however, there came voices on occasion, smothered every now and again by the burr and hiss of steam as it escaped from the safety-valve above the boiler.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
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 Geoff looked over the side and peered into the water; then he took a boathook and thrust it downward till it struck the bottom of the swamp close beside them.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading There was just the gentle purr of the petrol motor aboard the British boat as it slowly turned over--that and the occasional click of a rifle-lock, as one of the men saw to his weapon.
in or at the place that
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading An instant later he had plucked the Commander by the sleeve, and was whispering to him.
wide-stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Motor-boat in Action There was a deathly silence about the reed-clad island which separated the motor-boat, with its British crew, which was stealing along one side of it, and the wide-stretching marshes on the farther side, where the Turkish launch forged her way slowly, steering for the far end of the island.
